ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Former employees of Serenata Beach Club in South Ponte Vedra Beach say they haven't been paid for their work over the summer.
"You know, it was a summer job. The job was fine to start," Sam Blumberger said. He worked as an aquatics attendant at the Serenata Beach Club this past summer. He was also asked to track the scheduling for his department’s employees.
Eventually, he and others stopped getting paid.
"It’s almost like 200 hours for me," Blumberger said. He has tallied the numbers and determined he is owed more than $3,000 for his work at Serenata Beach Club. He contacted Michael Mota, the man who is running the club while it’s going through foreclosure.
"I’ve texted him consistently for about a month now," Blumberger said. He has the texts to prove it. "I’ve sent (requests) to our accounting person," he added. "But it's just a lost cause."
Blumberger sent a registered letter to the club, asking for payment. He also went to the club seeking his paychecks as well.
After Blumberger left for college this month, his mother, Marlene Blumberger, communicated with an employee at the club about her son's money. She says she was told if nothing was received, she should go to the club in a week. She did.
Marlene Blumberger said when she went back, she spoke to Mota on the phone. She said he was "belittling me because I was there on behalf of my son."
She didn’t get the paycheck.
Lily Moss also told First Coast News she has not been paid for the work she did in the children's program this summer at Serenata.
"They still owe me a check, and it should be around $1,000," Moss said.
She has asked for her paycheck but has been told the money will come.
She said she chose to leave the job when it was apparent she wasn't getting paid.
First Coast News has spoken with at least two other employees, Joe Graham and Dillon Mantei, who have not been paid by Serenata.
Text messages from Graham show he's also tried to get answers from Serenata.
First Coast News spoke with Mota on the phone about these claims. He said he is part of the transition team while the business is going through foreclosure. Mota said the club is up for auction in September and "everything will be taken care of" by then. He said if anyone is left without the money they are due, they will receive it. He said it is a "minority" of employees who have not been paid.
Mota also said he encourages those who have not been properly paid to contact the Labor Department.
Mota said when Blumberger went directly to the club to inquire about his paycheck, he was "threatening employees" and "verbally attacking staff."
Blumberger said, "I adamantly object to Michael's false accusations about my words and actions."
Others who know Blumberger describe him as "mild-mannered." One employee said Blumberger "was very friendly with other Serenata employees" and "passionate about the well-being of the club."
Mota said employees or former employees who have not been paid in full should follow the process which entails contacting the accounting department, and then the money will be sent to them in the mail. He added that they will be paid for "every week they worked there."
However, former employees told First Coast News they have contacted the accounting department, and they still have not been paid what they are owed.
"I would like to see us all get paid," Blumberger said.