In a rare weekend meeting, the N.H. Executive Council approved a series of tabled state contracts, including one to repair N.H. Route 12 in Charlestown.
A majority of the Republican-controlled panel, which shares executive power with Gov. Kelly Ayotte, refused to act on about 20 contracts on Wednesday after complaining she was not sharing enough financial information about the contracting organizations.
Ayotte, who has been trying to streamline Executive Council processes and reduce paperwork, ultimately provided the additional information, paving the way for these contracts to be approved at the meeting Saturday in Concord. The five-member council considers all state contracts of $10,000 or more.
Route 12 in Charlestown has been reduced to one lane since May after heavy rains destabilized the adjacent slope. The panel’s only Democrat, Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon, whose district takes in Charlestown, said the slope needs to be fixed as soon as possible because the town depends on that route.
Bazin Brothers Trucking of Westminster, Vt., now has a $708,113 contract to fix the slope.
She has also expressed concerns that any delays in construction work could force the project beyond the winter months.
Other contracts approved Saturday included agreements to preserve a bridge over the Lamprey River in Plymouth, N.H., to support child advocacy services and to pay for fences erected to control crowds during foliage season.
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