By a count of 279 to 48, Wiscasset residents overwhelming voted to continue using the term “Redskins” as a mascot for their high school during a March 1 non-binding referendum.
The vote, described as largely symbolic by some members of the RSU 12 school board, was an attempt by town officials to accurately measure the wishes of residents in the ongoing controversy surrounding the school’s mascot.
In January, the RSU 12 Board voted to immediately and permanently remove the term “Redskin” from all eight of its member schools. The ensuing controversy and confusion over the Board’s decision led to pleas from residents to have the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen take an official position on the issue.
“The board is charged with representing the will of the people and I look for you to do so,” said Wiscasset resident Chet Grover at a Jan. 25 Board meeting.
By taking a formal vote, town officials hope to have a documented position of its residents and use that information for ongoing discussions with RSU 12 officials. In a letter to Selectmen dated Feb. 7, RSU 12 Supt. Greg Potter said school officials would follow the vote closely and possibly place the issue on a March school board agenda.
A previous informal survey, conducted Nov. 2, 2010 by Dresden resident Chris Teel showed overwhelming support for the “Redskin” moniker, evidence he said was ignored by the RSU board.
The controversy has highlighted tensions surrounding school consolidation and the level of autonomy a school has within an RSU district.
In previous comments, Wiscasset Selectman Ed Polewarczyk said the mascot issue may be a “tipping point” and could lead to an eventual RSU pullout by Wiscasset in 2012.
The state will pay Wiscasset $4800 per year with a two percent escalator throughout the length of the contract. The project is part of a statewide effort to streamline communications for emergency personnel and also to be in compliance with a directive from the FCC for narrowband frequencies.
The project caused a minor stir when Lincoln County Emergency Management Association Director Tim Pellerin expressed concern over language in the state’s Tower Mitigation Process and the possible effect on a neighboring Lincoln County EMA tower.
After a brief discussion with state officials, the language was amended and will not require the Lincoln County EMA tower to pay for potential interference if the county decides to upgrade its tower.
At a Feb. 15 public hearing, the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen expressed overwhelming support for the tower, citing its modest but appreciable financial upside. Overall, 276 residents voted in favor of the tower while 48 voted against it.
