Health Club Owner Arrested; Facility Closed

State troopers arrested the owner of the New Milford Sports Club on Tuesday on charges of not paying his employees and the facility has been closed for three days, leaving members wondering about the fate of the club and whether they will be reimbursed for their dues.

Dominick Donofrio Jr. was arrested at his home in Roxbury and taken into custody by state police, who made the arrest on behalf of the Department of Labor. Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, New Milford Police went to the club on Grove Street, but did not find Donofrio Jr.

The Labor Department’s wage unit obtained the arrest warrant after receiving 57 complaints from New Milford Sports Club employees. The employees received checks, a spokeswoman said, but many of them bounced. Donofrio owed almost $50,000 in wages to employees between March 25 and April 21.

The Department of Consumer Protection has also received complaints and has an open case against the club. Last week, the New Milford Health Department shut down the club’s food service area and pool because of a lack of hot water.

The property owner, Rose-Wein, LLC, is trying to evict the club owners, but the case remains in court. Donofrio, along with his father Dominick Sr., took over the club last summer.

“From what I’ve been told, (the club owners) locked the door and walked away,” Jeffrey Tinley, the attorney representing Rose-Wein, said Tuesday. “It is our position that they abandoned the premises. If that is the case, we can get it ready fairly quickly, and find someone else to come in and get back to normal operations. But they are making it difficult.”

A sign on the entrance door at New Milford Sports Club says the facility is closed due to mechanical repairs.

On Tuesday morning, two club members stood in the parking lot discussing the situation and a handful of people could be seen inside the locked building. Two vans from PBM cleaning service were parked in front.

While the members talked in the parking lot, two men walked out of the club and assured the members that the club would “be open again soon.” The men declined to offer more details and did not identify themselves when asked.

“I’ve been a member for 18 years. I’ve been through four changes of ownership and you’d never even know it happened — smooth as silk. Now this. I don’t even know what to say about this,” New Milford resident Barbara Shimmel said.

Shimmel said for many of the older members, the classes at New Milford Sports Club are not only exercise, but also their social life.

A Department of Consumer Protection spokesman said members should have access to the Health Club Guaranty Fund because the club has closed. The department is also working to stop automatic charges to members.

“We are working hard to complete our investigation in a thorough manner as soon as possible. Consumers who need to file a complaint with us may do so by emailing details regarding their interaction with New Milford Sports Club to dcp.frauds@ct.gov, or by calling 860-713-6100,” read a statement from the department.

Neil Marcus of Cohen & Wolf law firm, which is representing New Milford Sports Club, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. Calls to Dominick Donofrio Jr.’s phone were not answered.

Rose-Wein served an eviction notice in March to the club owners. An appearance from the attorney representing the Donofrios is scheduled for Wednesday.

Marcus said in late April the Donofrios made a proposal to settle the issue out of court. On Tuesday, Tinley described the proposal as a “ridiculous offer.”

“We’ve tried to get them to be more reasonable, but they are unwilling,” Tinley said. “We just want to see someone else in there and get the club open again.”