New emergency declaration continues town's path for reopening

Mayor Jenn Daniels, shown here addressing the audience at the 2020 Digital State of the Town, has issued a new emergency declaration for Gilbert. (Tom Blodgett/Community Impact Newspaper)

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By Tom Blodgett | 2:27 PM May 22, 2020 MST | Updated 2:27 PM May 22, 2020 MST

Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels issued a new declaration of emergency May 20 to continue allowing the town to take some actions while rescinding others from her March 16 declaration as the coronavirus pandemic hit town.

The measure calls for Town Manager Patrick Banger to provide for a phased reopening of the town that follows federal and state guidelines.

It also calls for Banger or his designee to waive some town code provisions to support businesses and residents and mitigate the financial impact upon the town.

The declaration also provides for the town to apply for financial relief that it qualifies for and to limit utility shutoffs to residents and businesses during the emergency while working out reasonable repayment plans.

By Tom Blodgett

Raised in Arizona, Tom Blodgett has spent 30 years in journalism in Arizona and is the editor of the Gilbert edition of Community Impact Newspaper. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he now serves as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet.