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Politics & Government

Town IT Specialist Retiring, Says Decision is Unrelated to Computer Virus

Wendell Baxter's last day is scheduled for early July.

The ’s Information Technology Specialist, Wendell Baxter, plans to retire July 5, a few months after the    were by a . He and Town Administrator Chris Schlehr said Baxter’s decision is unrelated to the incident.

“I just want to spend more time with my family and do some other things before I get any older,” said Baxter, 66.

He had knee surgery and took a leave from work a few days before the  in late November. Baxter returned to work the first week of April. He has been the IT specialist since November 2001 after serving as a officer for 30 years.

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“He’s of retirement age,” Schlehr said. “I think he just thinks it’s time for him to go. … It’s not virus-related. It’s his doing.”

Town officials attempted to open a controversial in November that would have increased pension from 40 percent of career-ending salary to 50 percent. Of the five eligible workers, Baxter included, only declared her intention to retire. , and Deibel retired Dec. 30 anyway.

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Schlehr said he does not know why Baxter changed his mind.

“I didn’t talk to him directly about the window,” he said. “I think he just feels it’s time for him to go.”

Said Baxter: “[My] knee had something to do with it.”

After 40 years as a town employee, Baxter is leaving on good terms.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the town. It’s been a pleasure,” he said. “The community has been great. I’ve been blessed. I’ve been truly blessed to work with the town and the citizens of Bel Air. I couldn’t ask for anything more, the respect I’ve gotten from the citizens.”

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