Scarborough residents could have the chance to decide on changing the high school’s nickname from Red Storm back to another American Indian name if the Town Council votes Wednesday night to send the issue to voters in November.

Following a public hearing Wednesday, the Town Council was expected to make the decision, after The Current deadline, to send a non-binding referendum question to the ballot.

Council Chairman Jeffrey Messer said this week the November question would likely have language to change the name back to a name with “Native American heritage.”

“It would be something not offensive,” Messer said. “Something like Indians or Chiefs would fit that category.”

Residents had been circulating a petition, initiated by Elvin Tim, to get the name changed back to Redskins, but the Town Council’s vote could make that unnecessary if it approves sending the question forward for the November vote.

Four councilors – Richard Sullivan, Judith Roy, Ronald Ahlquist and Carol Rancourt – had co-sponsored the petition, which prompted councilors to allow a public hearing and vote on the issue, Messer said.

“We don’t have a dog in this fight,” Messer said. “But four of the seven councilors feel strongly about it and are co-sponsoring this just to get a sense of public sentiment.”

Messer said the Scarborough School Board ultimately will decide to change the name or keep it, and that the Town Council only has the authority to send the question to referendum. The vote in November, however, would be a guide for the School Board because it would get a better understanding for how the town feels about the name change, he said.

Some residents have been unhappy with the Red Storm name since the School Board changed the name from the Redskins in 2001. The board that year rejected the students’ first choice of Titans because Greek mythology said the ruler of the Titans ate his children to avoid being overthrown by a son.

Bruce Bell, a resident who signed the petition and is a Scarborough alumni, said many people with whom he has spoken feel they were denied their due process rights and didn’t get a chance to have a say in the original name change.

“It was a knee-jerk reaction,” Bell said. “I graduated from Scarborough and I still feel that I’m a Redskin and I don’t think that will ever change.”

Bell said he realizes the vote wouldn’t necessarily change the name back to Redskins, but he wants the residents to at least be able to recommend a name for which they would be proud.

“I don’t feel that the present mascot is something that instills pride and energy,” Bell said. “Hopefully, the School Board will allow the voices to be heard so the people will have a chance to choose something they can take pride in.”