Yesterday, I received the below email from Employee Joe Thomas regarding maintenance on our unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort – indicating that:
- “At this time, due to reduced staffing in our maintenance department and
- their duties & responsibilities to the GGRC common area and the RML
- Participants, I am unable to honor your current request for maintenance
- services or any future repair & maintenance service request for the interior
- of A202. ”
Please note that Joe Thomas does not say that Tom is too busy right now…but that he will never honor ANY FUTURE request – irrespective of whether Tom was going to be busy or not!
Do you think that a court of law might, just maybe, consider that a tad discriminatory?
Firstly, I would like for the Board to explain to Employee Joe Thomas that Tom does NOT work for RML but instead works for GGRC – according to the 2009 Budget that was sent to all owners.
Equal Access to Deer Ridge Maintenance
Therefore, RML does NOT have ANY exclusive rights to use any of Tom’s time to the exclusion of any Deer Ridge owners. Joe seems to have completely missed this critically important point. Perhaps, the Board can explain this to him…and get this problem immediately solved.
As a result of Tom being a GGRC employee, ALL owners – whether they are using RML or not – should be treated EXACTLY the same when it comes to using Tom’s services for the interior maintenance of all units.
- This means the SAME priority for all work orders.
- This means the SAME charges for all work done.
- This means that ALL owners – in or out of RML – have the SAME right to on site maintenance.
- This means that any work that Tom does for the non-Deer Ridge cabins should be paid back to GGRC and not RML – since GGRC pays for all of Tom’s salary and benefits.
In other words, I am THE one who pay Tom’s salary and benefits, along with EVERY other owner at Deer Ridge – and ALL of us deserve equal treatment.
In my opinion, anything else is discriminatory.
Period.
Joe Thomas Actions Are Retaliatory and Discriminatory
Luther, please confirm whether you, and the Board of Directors, agree with Joe Thomas’ stated position regarding maintenance and repairs of my unit so that I fully, and unambiguously, understand the legal position of the Boards of GGRC and RML on this matter.
Please note that we, and others, view Joe Thomas’ actions as retaliatory and discriminatory – and actionable in a court of law.
How do YOU think a judge will react to this information about YOUR employee?
In our opinion, we believe this is in direct retaliation for our strong and public recommendation that RML be sold – and that Joe Thomas be fired. The position Employee Joe has taken in the below email is indicative of a long running pattern of slanderous and vilifying comments made by Joe Thomas concerning us, and others, to employees, vendors and other owners.
We have been told of many other past incidences where Joe Thomas has tried to use his position with GGRC and RML to intimidate, retaliate and discriminate against various owners who did not use RML – or otherwise share Employee Joe’s approach, attitude and opinion.
I, for one, will NOT tolerate – even the attempt of this – for one second by the hired help.
I want to know if the Deer Ridge Board of Directors supports, and in any way condones, the retaliatory and discriminatory behavior of Joe Thomas or not – or if you plan on any public reprimand of his actions or termination of his services?
Joe Thomas – Refusal To Allow Copies Of Documents Regarding Asinine Assessment
His despicable actions were grossly amplified again yesterday afternoon when he refused, in writing, to allow me or other owners to make copies of requested books and records concerning OUR property and OUR investment in Deer Ridge.
Be aware that I, along with several other owners, plan to immediately file a lawsuit in Sevier County over this, and any other, retaliatory and discriminatory actions taken, or instigated, by Joe Thomas or the Board – if this intolerable matter is not quickly and satisfactorily resolved by you and the Board.
We have already kicked off a Litigation Fund for other owners to donate to this cause – and we already have contributors.
So, what do you want to do, Luther?
Proposed Lawsuit Against GGRC And RML
This proposed lawsuit that we have in mind will include several Deer Ridge owners as co-plaintiffs and will require a substantive request for production of documents that ALL owners have a right to see.
These documents will include, among others, all past work orders, payroll records, time sheets, employee records, rental records, agreements, contracts, bids, correspondence, emails, etc – so that we can conduct a forensic accounting for GGRC and RML for the past five years.
This will also include a forensic review of all rental history to identify rental favoritism and insider deals and special treatment for board members.
This proposed lawsuit will also include issuing several subpoenas for testimony as to the long running pattern of slanderous comments made by Joe Thomas concerning us, and others, to employees, vendors and other owners.
We also intend to file suit for the free and open access to audio recordings of all Board meetings – along with other steps to insure that all owners have free and easy access to every part of what goes on regarding our investment and our property.
Likewise, and equally abhorrent, is Employee Joe’s position taken today on not allowing copies to be made of documentation regarding the pending and massive assessment that was recently announced by the Board of Directors.
I have offered to copy the documents myself – and to even bring my own copy machine to the office to make copies. Yet, Employee Joe insists that no copies will be made, stating in today’s email:
- “My positions stands, no copies. If you disagree with my position please feel free to take it up with my superiors.”
Well, you ARE Employee Joe’s superior. And, I AM taking up this matter with YOU.
What say you?
What Is Joe Thomas Trying To Hide?
What is Joe trying to so desperately hide by not allowing ALL owners to see all underlying documents that provide the basis for a MASSIVE $353,500 special assessment against all owners of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort?
I want to know if the Deer Ridge Board of Directors supports Employee Joe Thomas’ indefensible blockage of document availability that interferes with my right, and the rights of other owners, to acquire copies of any and all books and records related to GGRC and/or RML – especially those related to the massive special assessment?
Luther, if the Board is as transparent as you have professed in prior communications to all owners, then WHY on Earth would you or the Board have ANY reason to object to ALL owners knowing, in detail, what is going on with their property?
Be aware that I, along with other owners, intend to file suit against GGRC and RML with regard to any and all blockage of document availability that interferes with my right, and the rights of other owners, to acquire copies of any and all books and records related to GGRC and/or RML.
Luther, Don’t Waste Deer Ridge Owners’ Money
GGRC and RML cannot afford to waste owners’ money on legal fees fighting a lawsuit trying to defend the retaliatory and discriminatory behavior of Joe Thomas – or his attempts to block access to books and records that should always be easily made available to ALL owners.
If the Board chooses to fight these issues, I believe the Board should be held liable for squandering Deer Ridge assets – instead of simply fixing what is an obvious employee problem and just doing the right thing and provide documents that ALL owners should have easy access to.
So, Luther, what do you and the Board want to do?
Do you want to resolve these issues here and now – and avoid all the wasted time, effort and money defending the indefensible – or do you want these matters to move forward down their apparent path to their obvious Point B?
Now is the time for you to choose.
Robert
A-202
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At 04:16 PM 9/30/2009, Joe Thomas wrote:
Tags: Board of Directors, lawsuit, Retaliatory and Discriminatory Behavior, Documents, litigation, HOA, Joe Thomas, owner's rights, litigation fundDear Robert,
As I stated to Janet in an earlier email;
At this time, due to reduced staffing in our maintenance department and
their duties & responsibilities to the GGRC common area and the RML
Participants, I am unable to honor your current request for maintenance
services or any future repair & maintenance service request for the interior
of A202.However, I would like to provide you with a list of a local handyman who may
be able to help; Kirk Ennis- 865-397-6282, cell 865-335-5470 – Handyman,
countertops, kitchen cabinets.Additionally, I’d like to provide you with a list of local service companies
who can handle your interior repair and maintenance items.A/C & Heating- Miller Heating and Air- Danny Miller – 865-453-8534, cell
865-604-8534Carpet and vinyl install and repair- Bruce Williamson- 423-623-2577
Wall Paper – Rickie Taylor- 865-430-9074
Plumbing- Mark and Mona’s Plumbing 865-577-9920
I hope you find this information helpful.
Thank you,
Joe Thomas
General Manager
I have to agree with Robert after looking over these budgets.
GGRC does not need a reservation person and should not be charged for one as a way of hiding the real cost of RML. As far as maintenance goes, GGRC likely only needs a part-time maintenance person who should be able to do any work for GGRC members regardless whether they participate in Joe’s No Tell Motel.
For that matter, we only need a Manager about 30 hours per week. That would be more than enough since we are a tiny 84 owner unit (not even a total of 84 owners when you stop to take into account some owners own more than one unit.)
We employ 11 people, not even counting all the contract maids!!!! 11 people!!! The salaries are too high for the area and we do not need all this waste in our budget!
I certainly do not need $22,000 for pumpkins!
Katherine,
You are correct. Under the right format, appropriate circumstances this place could be run extremely efficiently. Saving owners what is now wasted revenue. Building revenue in places where we are losing it, or not collecting on it at all. Revenue we as owners are not tapping into, some conflicts of interest are now going solely to the manager. The way i see it.
**Give those employee’s that are HONEST and UPFRONT and doing a GOOD job a MUCH better salary/hours/benefits PLUS a TERRIFIC work environment!
**My opinion from working here: The work environment as it stands is VERY stressful for any employee that would attempt, ATTEMPT to be honest. Don’t expect them too, as they are trying to simply ’survive’ at this point. They are told whom they can and whom they cannot talk to. What they can and cannot say. I am sure it could be very threatening from working here prior. Not one worker deserves that type of a work environment. No one.
We simply need honest, caring, cheerful employee’s and they need and DESERVE the same from a manager! That i believe will be accomplished and will occur once the current management AND board is abolished. Under this no-tel motel a worker here unless one plays the game ‘instructed’ to be played, will be harassed at best. I feel for the honest workers here. They must play the game in some fashion, but everyone please understand it is NOT their rules. Never has been.
If the employee’s are reading this, and i am sure they are, please understand that it IS going to CHANGE and it WILL get better! For those employee’s feeling REAL LOYALTY to Joey ~ well GOOD LORD PLEASE go with him! lol! When he is gone as i am sure he will need you, desperately. (Remember then to know your worth. I am sure he can afford you.)
Like Always in Life, when one door closes ~ another door opens!