A well-established Gilroy electrical company could go out of
business if the school district doesn’t pay it for about $600,000
worth of work, and is planning to sue unless it gets its money
fast.
A well-established Gilroy electrical company could go out of business if the school district doesn’t pay it for about $600,000 worth of work, and is planning to sue unless it gets its money fast.
Vince Giacalone, founder and chief executive officer of Giacalone Electrical Services, Inc., a company that’s been in Gilroy for more than 20 years and at one time was the third largest employer in town, implored the school board Thursday night to address the $600,000 worth of work he said his company performed for the district but has yet to be paid for.
The school district originally contracted with Giacalone to install Christopher High School’s electrical wiring, Giacalone said. In addition, the district requested that Giacalone’s company underground electrical, telephone and cable wires running along West Day Road and Santa Teresa Boulevard in order to open the school on time, Giacalone said. His company completed the project in a month’s time and met the district’s deadline. The undergrounding project, however, was not written into the contract. Giacalone said he completed the project in good faith, with assurances from former Facilities Director Rob Mendiola that he would be paid for his work.
Six months later, Giacalone and his employees have not been paid, he said, adding that he was embarrassed to be standing before the board a couple weeks before Christmas, begging for $600,000.
“My employees can’t buy Christmas presents for their kids,” he told trustees, exceeding the one minute time slot the board president, Javier Aguirre, allowed for public comment. “I think I deserve the right to speak for a little bit longer. I spent a half million dollars out of my pocket to get your school open and I’m not getting paid. Now what we have is a lawsuit.”
Last month, Giacalone brought his case before the school board and hasn’t heard back from anyone other than the district’s lawyer, he said.
“It’s becoming a severe financial hardship on a company that’s supported this school district for 20 years,” Giacalone said in November. “I don’t know where else to turn.”
The board did not respond to Giacalone’s concerns at the board meeting because “by law, board members cannot enter into discussion on non-agenda items,” Aguirre reminded trustees and the public.
