Langley hires new harbormaster to oversee slips

The search for a new Langley harbormaster ended Thursday with the hiring of Eric Lampour.

A three-year resident of South Whidbey, Lampour replaces Ben Reams, who resigned May 12.

“I am excited about the potential for this position and hope to bring new life to the Langley harbor through my knowledge of boating, as well as my enthusiasm and energy,” he said.

Walt Blackford, Langley’s administrator, said city officials chose Lampour from a pool of the nine candidates.

Blackford said job duties include greeting and helping visiting boaters, monitoring the use and payment of moorage fees and general repair and maintenance of the marina to keep it safe.

Lampour ,34, said his primary goal is increasing the use of the small boat harbor.

Other goals include directing more boaters from the slips in the harbor to Langley restaurants and other businesses, adding more signs to make the harbor itself easier to find, as well as updating the harbor line at city hall.

He said he is also looking to make minor repairs to the marina.

Lampour grew up on Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and has been around boats and the water from a very early age. He said his father, Gary Lampour, instilled his love of the water and everything associated with it.

The new harbormaster has attended numerous Coast Guard classes, and worked as a firefighter in Virginia and in the Seattle area. He took a leave of absence from his firefighting duties to open Cascade Home Builders on Whidbey Island, but closed the business when named harbormaster.

Lampour lives with his wife, Cheryl, and two sons.

He will work a variable schedule depending on the season and the level of activity expected in the harbor.

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