ROCKLAND, Maine — A retired Coast Guard officer will be the city’s next harbor master.
Matthew Ripley brings “deep, pertinent managerial experience to the harbor master position,” City Manager James Chaousis said Thursday in a news release.
The South Thomaston resident will begin work Monday, the manager said, with a starting pay of $55,000 annually.
As a naval engineer in the Coast Guard, Ripley supervised personnel in shipboard and small boat engineering maintenance, search and rescue operations, waterfront projects, drug interdiction, migrant operations, ship repair, law enforcement and training, among other things, according to the news release.
He worked closely with a variety of local state and government agencies ranging from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to local sheriff’s departments.
Ripley has been stationed in Rockland and St. Augustine, Florida, during his more than 21 years with the Coast Guard.
He grew up in St. George and started his career working as a crewman on the Laura B ferry in Port Clyde. Ripley also has volunteered countless hours winterizing houses and assisting with food pantries, according to the city.
“I love Rockland,” Ripley said in the release about his new job. “I’m so happy that I will get the chance to exercise the skills I’ve developed over two decades in the Coast Guard to help improve the harbor for business and recreation.”
Chaousis said the harbor master job is vital to a harbor-oriented city such as Rockland, and Ripley will be Rockland’s point person when it comes to making the harbor safe, work well for businesses including fisherman, and appeal to visitors. The job comes with enforcement responsibilities as well, including enforcement of city ordinances and observing state and federal laws.
Ripley succeeds Ed Glaser, who was fired last month, a few weeks short of retirement. Glaser had been harbor master for 12 years.