Gilbert's four council members-elect outlined an ambitious governing agenda July 29 that they said is already influencing town decisions, prompting an unusual public response from the Town of Gilbert and a sharply worded private rebuke from outgoing Vice Mayor Chuck Bongiovanni.
The two-page statement, signed by council members-elect Beth Goulden, Bill Spence, Joel Coen and Bus Obayomi, declared that "the status quo is no longer acceptable" and laid out a series of priorities the group said it has already begun pursuing despite not taking office until Jan. 5.
Within hours, the Town of Gilbert issued a statement emphasizing that governing authority remains with the current Town Council until the newly elected members are sworn into office.
