The Scarborough Town Council is expected to take over the supervision of any future school construction project, in a move supporters say is aimed at improving construction oversight but the superintendent called a “hijacking.”

Councilor Steve Ross has drafted a resolution telling the Board of Education that the council will appoint a building committee to oversee the upcoming intermediate and middle school construction projects, estimated to cost between $40 million and $54 million. The resolution has the support of the majority of the council, which will vote on the resolution Wednesday after the Current’s deadline.

The resolution does not specify who would serve on the committee or its specific responsibilities, except that it will “oversee any future school building projects approved by voter referendum.”

Ross said he was not happy with the way the high school construction controversy played out and the purpose of the committee is to increase communication during construction. A final engineering report released last week indicated there are some problems with the high school’s construction and recommended the town take out a long-term insurance policy to cover any potential problems.

“If some of the issues with the high school building project received wider circulation there may have been more pressure to make corrections and do it better,” Ross said.

He also believes residents would feel more comfortable with a committee that draws from a wider audience than just the Town Council and school board. State law allows the council to appoint a building committee outranking any school department group, but only if it does so before the project’s formal plans receive approval from the state Education Department. That is expected to be a formality, because officials do not expect any state funding to help cover the costs.

During its last meeting the school board agreed to form two 15-member building committees to create plans for the school building projects. The committees would include two school board members and two town councilors each. The purpose of the committees is to develop school construction plans that would be presented to voters on the November 2006 ballot.

In a letter sent to town and school officials on Monday school board Chairman David Beneman said there is no need for the town to form its own building committee because the school already has undertaken the task.

“I realize that members may not have been aware of how much work and development has already occurred as to both the Wentworth and (Middle School) projects,” Beneman wrote. “Similarly, many on the (Town Council) may not have realized that the (school board) had already created Building Committees.”

He goes on to say that with the information about the school’s forming its own building committees, “I am sure everyone can see there is no current need for the proposed (Town Council) School Building Committee Resolution and I ask you to remove it from the pending Agenda.”

Superintendent Bill Michaud said the board agreed to expand the building committee to include staff and town councilors and said the resolution is “unfortunate.”

He said there have been no meetings between the school board and Town Council or between him and Town Manager Ron Owens to discuss the issue.

“It’s a hijacking,” Michaud said. “I’m interested in the rationale and why they feel they need to take that action.”

The resolution has the support of the majority of the council, who feel the committee will provide strong oversight and better accountability during the construction.

“I do believe there is a lack of accountability about what’s being done and what is being communicated to the public,” Councilor Shawn Babine said, adding that the new arrangement could foster a better working relationship between the school board and council. “This committee should be the bridge between the school and town.”

Council Chairman Jeffrey Messer said he would support the resolution because of the problems he and others feel occurred with the high school construction.

“I was frustrated quite honestly with the high school issue,” Messer said, adding that some of the questions he raised were not answered. He said the current building committee does not have accountability.

Councilor Robert Patch also supports the resolution.

“I just think after the last incident with the high school they basically told us it wasn’t our business,” Patch said. “I feel we should have a bit of a say about it. It should make everything better.”