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.