Nick Salt, a builder and former cafe operator, quit on November 4, and let his feelings be known in a paid advertisement in the Tuapeka Times newsletter last week.
He cited dissatisfaction at the amount of work not carried out in the area.
"As a ratepayer, it is my view that the community board is a waste of time and ratepayers' hard-earned money. Other non-funded groups in the community seem to get on and do things where the community board seems to just talk," he said.
Mr Salt's resignation will, ironically, cost ratepayers money, with a by-election planned for next February.
When he first joined the board after last year's local body elections, Mr Salt said he pushed to have the various chip footpaths around Lawrence maintained and repaired but a year later it had not happened. Mr Salt said the Clutha District Council assured him there was a budget for this work.
"If this is the case, the coffers should be bursting at the seams as since the paths were laid, not one piece of work has been carried out to repair them."
Mr Salt said he was told it was a slow process getting money spent in Lawrence but he found that unacceptable, considering the "high rates we pay in this town".
He believed residents should think about asking the council to "do away" with the community board in favour of a volunteer-based ratepayers association.
It also seems reactions to Mr Salt's personal appearance at meetings were another factor in his departure.
"Apparently, it is more important that I look good at the meetings than actually do good. I am a builder and sometimes I go to the meetings straight from the job but this, it seems, is unacceptable. Surely active attendance is more important than personal appearance?"
When contacted for comment, board chairman Geoff Davidson said he was disappointed Mr Salt had chosen to quit after a year.
"I thought it was a bit sudden to leave, to be honest. We all give a three-year commitment to the job and I think he [Mr Salt] should have seen that through."
He acknowledged Mr Salt had expressed concerns about the lack of money the board chose to spend on footpaths around the town but this had been a board decision and Mr Salt had accepted it when it was made.
