City leaders are moving quickly to fill the Planning Board seat left by Craig Babbidge, who resigned Saturday while jailed on a probation violation.

Councilor Maxine Beecher announced Monday night at the City Council meeting that she was accepting applications for a Planning Board member to serve from District 4, which covers outer Highland Avenue and Elderberry Lane.

Beecher made no mention of the circumstances of Babbidge’s arrest or unusual resignation.

The three-term board member has been held at the Cumberland County Jail since his arrest on Dec. 21. His alleged probation violation stems from a 2007 conviction for drunk driving and criminal speeding.

A judge was expected to decide Wednesday, after press time, whether Babbidge should stay in jail or be released on probation.

After initial press reports in December about the arrest, some city leaders expressed publicly they hoped he would resign.

Last Thursday, Babbidge informed The Current in a jailhouse interview that he planned to quit the board, as soon as he could personally talk to Beecher, the councilor representing his district.

But phone restrictions at jail kept him from calling her.

“I want to talk to Maxine personally first before submitting my resignation,” he said.

“She made the appointment and I have nothing but respect for her.”

Babbidge also provided to the newspaper a copy of a resignation letter he said he hoped to hand to Beecher.

On Saturday, Beecher visited him at the jail. Babbidge officially resigned, with witnesses present, according to a press statement from City Hall.

Beecher did not return several calls for comment.

Babbidge’s term was set to expire on April 1.

A new Planning Board member could be tapped as early as Jan. 21, but councilors expect that the appointment won’t happen that quickly. The appointment requires council approval, although Beecher will nominate an applicant from her district.

Board member Don Russell said he hopes that Beecher will choose an applicant who not only will complete Babbidge’s term, but also is prepared to be re-appointed through 2011.

“There is so little time left in his term that I suspect whoever she appoints will likely be re-appointed for a full three-year term,” Russell said. “It would be pretty surprising if someone just came in for three months.”

No expertise is required for the volunteer position, though Babbidge’s background was in engineering.

Applications are available on the South Portland Web site and at the city clerk’s office at 25 Cottage Road. Planning Board meetings are held twice a month.

While city leaders are trying to put the controversy behind them, the Planning Board still seems divided over whether Babbidge should have resigned.

Board member Carol Thorne said she is dismayed by the publicity and politics over his arrest.

“I cannot say that I’m glad he resigned,” she said. “We have a responsibility as appointees to carry out ordinances as written in relation to land use.

“We are not his judge or a jury. In terms of expertise, Craig was phenomenal. He brought an inordinate amount of knowledge in engineering and how things are run with the land itself.

“His personal decisions and actions will be judged in a court and should have nothing to do with us.”

But Russell said he believed “the first, best option” for Babbidge was to leave the board.

“It seemed under the circumstances, from what’s been reported, that resignation seemed appropriate,” Russell said.

“It was primarily for Craig’s sake and the sake of his family. He can focus his time elsewhere,” Russell added. “I wish him well. I have prayed for him and realize he is going through difficult times.”

Russell also wondered whether the board should explore adopting a “code of conduct” for members to help guide them through similar problems, should they arise in the future.

“I’m just putting the question out there – whether there should be procedures in place,” he said.