NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectmen will hold a hearing next week to decide whether the town's fire commissioners should be fired.

The board voted, with Selectman Chairman Paul Belham abstaining, to hold a termination hearing Tuesday for Fire Commissioners Valerie Hickey, Michael Coyle and Christopher LeBlanc.

Selectman Mark Williamson said Town Counsel Roger Ferris will moderate the hearing, during which fire commissioners will be asked to state why they should be allowed to continue serving on the board.

The hearing was scheduled because the three fire commissioners refused to comply with selectmen's demand that they resign following an investigation into several complaint letters about Fire Chief Peter Lamb.

The fire commission found the complaints were without merit. At the request of fire department personnel, selectmen conducted a review of the investigation.

Selectmen criticized fire commissioners for interviewing the fire chief before talking to the letter writers, conducting illegal meetings and failing to turn over records.

Hickey, the commission's chairwoman, said the board did nothing wrong and that fire commissioners are unfairly being targeted for dismissal.