CAPTION — Long-time Westport Harbormaster Richie  Earle will step down on Sept. 1.

WESTPORT — The Board of Selectmen voted Monday to appoint Assistant Harbormaster Chris Leonard to the job of acting harbormaster effective Sept. 1.

He will replace Richie Earle, Westport’s harbormaster for the past 28 years, who had announced his intention to retire earlier in the summer.

Mr. Earle had offered to serve as an assistant harbormaster, an offer the selectmen gladly accepted.

“Yes, it’s as of Sept. 1 — just in time to escape in case a hurricane comes this way,” Mr. Earle said with a laugh.

Selectmen read a proclamation recognizing Mr. Earle’s many years of devotion to the town’s boaters and waterways.

Mr. Leonard has served as an assistant harbormaster for the past seven-plus years.

“He’s got a good jump on it,” Mr. Earle said of his successor. “He’s a college graduate, has worked on commercial fishing boats, taught sailing. He knows his way around the water here, the river.”

The appointment is officially “acting harbormaster,” a reflection of the fact that the Board of Selectmen and town’s harbor advisory committee are studying the future setup of the job and how the varying waterfront responsibilities should be handled.

State harbormaster regulations and requirements have changed since his appointment long ago, Mr. Earle said and “they’ve got to do something to bring everything in line.” Topics for discussion include the roles of harbormaster and shellfish constable.

Mr. Earle said he is happy to say on to help with the transition.

Also helping are the town’s other assistant harbormasters, Jonathan Paull and Jim Perry, as well as several volunteer assistant.