-By Dan Murphy
Following eight years of service, Ross Levanto will step down from the Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) board of
directors after the group’s May 16 annual meeting.
Levanto joined the board in 2003 and is the former chair of the BHCA City Services Committee. He also served as an Executive Committee member and as the former vice president of the Neighborhood Services Committee.
Levanto said his decision to leave the board would allow him to focus on his other volunteer work, including his current role as secretary of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee.
“I want to make sure I’m not overextending myself in a volunteer capacity,” Levanto said. “I think it will serve to bring some new blood to the board, as well.”
Levanto will remain a member of the BHCA City Services Committee and continue to push for “2+2+9” – an initiative to change trash and recycling pickup to twice a week and move the collection time from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Levanto will also still assist in other Civic Association activities, including holiday decorating, preparing for the annual Block Party and welcoming new residents to the neighborhood in the summer.
“During the last eight years, Ross Levanto has acted as our ‘trashman,’ public relations guru, diplomat, outside face – all with a great sense of humor,” BHCA Executive Director Suzanne Besser wrote in an e-mail to the Times. ”We are thankful for everything he has done and very happy that, although no longer sitting around the board table, he’ll be sticking with us nonetheless. After all, who else could drive our Holiday Decorating van with such witty cheer?”