Swimming pool builders vow to fight action by state board

Art Nadler

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997 | 9:29 a.m.

The husband-and-wife owners of three swimming pool companies, fined $13,500 by the Contractors Board and their licenses suspended, are vowing to take the state agency to court.

"I did not shoot the Kennedys. I am not a child molester. I'll fight for my company and customers to the end," co-owner Jeffrey Salama pledged Monday.

The Contractors Board reacted to numerous complaints about workmanship and failure to complete jobs or honor warranty work. The charges were filed against Jeffrey and Connie Salama's three companies: American Pools and Spas, Vegas Pools and Spas, and Royal Pools and Spas. The board ruled that:

* American Pools must pay $1,000 each on two charges within 60 days, or face license revocation.

* Vegas Pools must pay $500 each on nine charges within 120 days, or face license revocation.

* Royal Pools must pay $500 each on 14 charges within 180 days, or face license revocation.

Additionally, the Salamas have been ordered to submit financial statements to the board on all three companies. Their licenses have been suspended, meaning they cannot bid for new projects or sign new contracts, but they can finish existing swimming pools.

"We were trying to keep them in business and not force them out," Contractors Board Chairman Kim Gregory said. "If we would have revoked their licenses, you folks (pool customers in attendance) would have been out. What the board has done has shut the gates. We are not going to allow them to keep going in business."

The board is exercising new powers signed into law by Gov. Bob Miller last Wednesday. The emergency regulations are meant to stop fraud and abuse within the swimming pool construction business.

Consumers, the Contractors Board reports, have filed 970 complaints against pool contractors within the last three years. Of these, more than 356 were filed in the last year.

Connie Salama told the Contractors Board on Monday that the reason she and her husband didn't submit financial statements is that work had already been completed on the 18 pools under complaint.

"For the first meeting (of the Contractors Board), only two complaints had legitimacy," Connie Salama said. "We were willing to do this, and we were willing to respond back to the owners.

"I know that Kay Barber (executive director of the Contractors Board) and Harry Stephey (the board's former director of investigations) have made a campaign to put us out of business."

Barber would not comment on the allegations. Thomas Knapp, new director of investigations, said there are an additional 23 complaints "in the pipeline" against the Salamas' three companies.

"They robbed Peter to pay Paul," Jan Nobliski told the board. She and her husband, Mike, signed a contract with American Pools and Spas in March. Work started in June, she said, and the pool is still not completed.

Nobliski said they paid in full -- $15,200 -- for their pool. Recently, after a rainstorm, their air conditioner slid into an open trench left behind, she said.

The Internal Revenue Service filed two liens July 17 against the Salamas for unpaid balances of assessments. A $15,891 lien was filed against Royal Pools and Spas Inc. and a $2,586 lien against Connie Salama.

Jeffrey Salama said he wasn't aware of the liens.

In a related matter, the Contractors Board suspended Elite Pools Inc.'s license. Its owner, Robert Horn, has an application pending by Pools by Grube, 3655 S. Decatur Blvd., to take over his locations at 1022 W. Sunset Road in Henderson and 2210 S. Rainbow Blvd. in Las Vegas.