By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
South Portland Planning Board Member Craig Babbidge tendered his verbal resignation at the Cumberland County Jail before witnesses and  Councilor Maxine Beecher Monday. Beacher reappointed Babbidge to the planning board in 2005 and is currently accepting applications to fill the position, which represents District 4.
Babbidge, 46, was arrested on Dec. 21 after allegedly violating several terms of his probation including failing to report to his probation officer, after pleading guilty in March to driving while intoxicated and criminal speeding, according to court documents.
His attorney, Paul Letourneau, said Babbidge understands failing to report to his probation officer on a weekly basis was not a wise choice.
“He understands that he needs to report to probation and not put his work and family ahead of that and that’s difficult for him,” Letourneau said last week.
Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren denied bail following a hearing last week and said Babbidge needed to “square up for what’s going to happen to him for not reporting.”
According to court documents, Babbidge allegedly failed to report to his probation officer,  failed to refrain from possession and use of alcohol and tested positive for unlawful drugs.
Prior to Babbidge’s resignation, three members of the planning board said they thought Babbidge should resign.
“I really feel for Craig,” said Rob Schreiber. “I would hope that he would decide to resign on his own so he can take care of what he needs to that’s important in his life right now.”
Planning Board members Caroline Hendry and Don Russell agreed Babbidge needs to focus on his personal issues.
“I think in order for the board to go forward and work toward the goals we have in mind for the year ahead it would be too much of a distraction to have a person who would be dealing with a lot of personal problems and I think it would be hard for him,” said Hendry.
Babbidge and a co-worker, Neil Maietta, were arrested last month in Scarborough, near Maietta Construction, where he works as a project manager. Scarborough Police Department Detective Reed Barker said South Portland Police Officer Jason Pitcher stopped a vehicle, in which Babbidge was a passenger, because he was aware Babbidge had two outstanding arrest warrants. Barker said Maietta, who was not in the vehicle, approached the scene and attempted to interfere in the stop. Maietta was arrested and charged with obstructing government administration.
On June 11, 2006, Babbidge was arrested in Scarborough after traveling 30 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, according to court documents. His blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent, according to court documents. Babbidge had a prior OUI conviction from a 2004 incident in Farmington.
Babbidge pleaded guilty in Superior Court in March and was sentenced to serve 180 days in Cumberland County Jail with all but 10 suspended and spend a year on probation. Babbidge was also ordered to pay a fine and his license was suspended for 18 months.
According to court documents, Babbidge failed to report to his probation officer David Redmond on 10 separate occasions and was last seen by Redmond on Aug. 29, when he signed a summons to appear in court in September.
Letourneau said Babbidge telephoned Redmond when work commitments prevented him from meeting in person, but he now understands that wasn’t sufficient. Babbidge assumed informing his employer of his probation would lead to havoc at work, Letourneau said.
According to the August court summons, Babbidge was also in violation of his probation, when Redmond and another officer found alcohol in a refrigerator and in the back of Babbidge’s truck during a July visit to his home. Babbidge also failed to refrain from criminal conduct by operating after suspension on Aug. 17 in Farmington. He further violated his probation when he failed to notify Redmond of his arrest by a Farmington police officer.
Redmond was also notified in October that Babbidge had tested positive for methadone, a synthetic narcotic used to treat opioid addictions, as wells as THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, following a urine test, according to an affidavit. Babbidge allegedly admitted to “taking a couple of hits of pot,” but denied using methadone, according to  Redmond’s statement.
Letourneau said a second, more accurate test was negative for methadone.
Babbidge was attending an outpatient counseling program at Mercy Hospital as well as meeting with another personal counselor, while “dealing with a lot of things.”
“He lost his house recently, he got divorced recently [and] he lost two family members in quick succession,” Letourneau said.
Babbidge is “going through a roller coaster” in jail, Letourneau said. He said Babbidge, a father of nine children, has never spent a Christmas away from his family.
He remained incarcerated at least through Wednesday noon, The Sentry's deadline.
“It’s not a nice day when you’re talking to your son from jail,” Letourneau said. “He shouldn’t be where he is.”
Because Babbidge’s incarceration prevented him from attending Tuesday’s planning board meeting, the board could have recommended the city council waive the temporary vacancy created by his absence. South Portland Planning Director Tex Haeuser said with this most recent absence, Babbidge fell below the 75 percent attendance standard.
Babbidge served on the board for six years. His term was scheduled to expire in April.
Haeuser said Babbidge has served the board well.
“[He’s] been a helpful planning board member in that he has technical expertise due to his construction experience that at times has been helpful when reviewing project plans,” Haeuser said.