Security man shown door
Eviction came after opposition to contract
I told (the committee) they should not have changed companies and the lifts did not need to be replaced Michael Marcanelli
A POPULAR Gold Coast security manager at a major Surfers Paradise complex claims he was dumped from his job and evicted from his unit because he opposed a push to change lift providers.
Michael Marcanelli worked at Chevron Renaissance for 13 years as a subcontractor to COH Security.
Mr Marcanelli said after frequently raising the issue of lifts breaking down at the three-tower complex, he was sent a list of approved security subcontractors on February 12 this year with his name missing. Six days later he alleges he was evicted from the unit he rented.
He claims the action was taken because of his opposition to the lift services provider changing from Kone to Thyssenkrupp in late 2019.
The Bulletin contacted the body corporate committee
and was referred to body corporate managers Holmac Strata.
A representative for Holmac Strata said: “We’re not in a postion to comment.”
Mr Marcanelli said he worked at Chevron for 13 years with no issues until the owners voted at an extraordinary general meeting in December 2019 to change from
Kone to Thyssenkrupp. The deal included maintenance and almost $1m to replace four lifts in tower one.
Owners followed a recommendation from consultant Elivate to choose Thyssenkrupp over Kone.
“I told (the committee) they should not have changed companies and the lifts did not need to be replaced,” Mr
Marcanelli said.
“Kone maintained the lifts since the buildings were constructed with no issues. I did not think it wise to change providers.”
Mr Marcanelli said after Thyssenkrupp won the contract, the lifts broke down frequently.
Mr Marcanelli claimed people were trapped in the lifts at times and the internal phones failed to work.
He said he tried to raise the issue with the body corporate committee but was repeatedly told it was not his place.
A number of residents in the complex have told the Bulletin about ongoing issues with lift maintenance.
One tower three resident, who would not be named, said the situation became so bad that they had only one out of four elevators working in his building over the Christmas period.
“We have one elevator here that hasn’t been working for four months,” he said.
The man praised Mr Marcanelli, saying he had never given them “an ounce of trouble”.
“When we came here my wife suffered from a stomach condition and he was the one who offered to obtain the medication she needed.
“There were two occasions when she needed to go to hospital and he provided a wheelchair for her. He made sure the ambulance got up to our residence.
“I can name half-a-dozen other elderly people who he has assisted.”
The Bulletin visited the three towers recently and found all four lifts working in tower one and one lift out of action in towers two and three.
Stan Martinovic, who sits on the body corporate committee, said he wanted to keep Kone as the contractor but was overruled.
“I said ‘listen, we’re better keeping Kone because these are Kone lifts and we’re better off having them. Ever since (Thyssenkrupp) took over we have had nothing but problems.”
He said Mr Marcanelli was removed because he opposed the lift provider being changed.
Shirley Coleman, who has lived at Chevron for eight years, said she was “shocked” to hear Mr Marcenelli was gone.
“I’m getting on for 85, if ever I need help or advice he’s at my door in my five minutes.
“I can't speak too highly of Michael. He’s a gentleman and lovely natured guy.”
THE Fair Work Ombudsman has launched an investigation into a Gold Coast nightclub director’s company following allegations of tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages.
Casablanca is a nightclub in Broadbeach owned by Xlea Investments Pty Ltd, which lists Alex Said as its sole director and wife Deanne Said as shareholder.
Xlea bought the nightclub, previously known as Love, in December 2020 and rebranded it as Casablanca for its February 13 relaunch.
A number of former employees claim they worked long days — in some cases 21 hours — at Casablanca both before and during its relaunch, but are yet to be paid thousands in outstanding wages.
Multiple complaints have been filed with the Fair Work Ombudsman while a case has been laid in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) by a Coastbased creative agency whose owner alleges he has not been paid thousands in fees.
Mr Said denied any monies were outstanding to former staff: “I am being targeted. I have showed everything that I will present to a court of law once asked. The reason I say that with confidence is because nobody has contacted me.”
Former worker Tim Cerche said he worked as venue manager for Mr Said for about two weeks before opening but quit prior to the relaunch.
“He was telling people to be like, ‘hey, don’t be one of those people who is always hounding me for pay. You’ll get paid, I’ve
got the money’. I haven’t been paid a cent. It got to the point where I had a breakdown. I couldn’t pay my phone bill, I couldn’t pay my rent.”
Mr Cerche said he was owed $2000 and has laid a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Mr Said confirmed Mr Cerche was hired as venue manager but said he let Mr Cerche go once he found out he did not have the appropriate licences to run the venue, including his RMLV (Responsible Management of Licensed Venues) nor his approved managers card.
Paul Winter says he was hired for the same job as venue manager but was told he was no longer wanted after four days. “I’m owed $500. I tried to call and text after. He wouldn’t respond. After a while of me hounding him in regards to money, I finally got a message saying, ‘this is not Alex, don’t know what you are talking about’. I’m like, ‘mate, I spoke to you on this number before’.”
Mr Said said Mr Winter had never worked at Casablanca.
He said Mr Winter applied for a position as venue manager but was not hired because he did not have his RMLV nor his approved managers card.
Another venue manager, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “Concerns were heightened when I was advised (by Mr Said) that two team members who had been working to set up the bar ‘were not going to be paid for the weeks they had completed to date’, and that ‘nobody was being paid prior to opening day’.
“I asked if I was being paid and was advised I would not be paid for my last few days’ work also.”
Mr Said said: “He has never brought this to my attention. He left and threw his keys to a cleaner on a Sunday morning and (the complainant) has never pursued anything directly with his employer.”
The owner of a creative agency that did work in the lead-up to the launch of Casablanca says he filed a case against Mr Said in QCAT.
Mr Said said he would defend the QCAT case. He said he had paid 98 per cent of the invoice but withheld the final 2 per cent because of work improperly done.
Lawyer Sam Jazayeri, of SJ Legals, said he had been hired by three contractors who worked for Mr Said and say they are collectively owed $6000 for marketing services and cleaning supplies. He said he had sent three letters of demand to Mr Said, but did not receive a response.
Mr Said said he was disputing the invoices issued by the contractors, adding they included work that he did not authorise.
A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesperson said inquiries were being conducted in “relation to Xlea Investments Pty Ltd, and it is not appropriate to comment further at this time”.