Getting to know Marv Eicher

An eight-year member of the township's , Marv Eicher earlier this month was  the board's newest chairman after a 5-0 vote.

The Bon Meade neighborhood resident spoke with Patch this week about his new position. 

Best way to contact him: Eicher said residents can reach him through his township email at meicher@moontwp.com.

"...I still have a number in the book," he said. "If people have something that they'd like to speak with me about directly they can always contact me that way." 

Family: Wife Joyce and four children. 

Term expires: Dec. 2015

Career: Project manager at N.A. Water Systems. Also was a captain in the Air Force. Attended at Pennsylvania State University and Indiana State University. 

Why he moved to Moon: Eicher was raised in Western Pennsylvania. After a stint working in New Mexico he moved in 1984 to Moon Township. 

"Probably the biggest [reason why his family moved to Moon] at that point was the schools," he said. "I wanted to live on the western side of the city, even possibly in the Beaver County area. We had four children going through kindergarten through middle school, and that played a big part in why we came here. Moon had easy access to the city and a small-town feel. So it was that combination."

Why he got involved in local government: "I've been involved in the community since I moved here. I was involved in the youth soccer program and Little League baseball, and then I was approached about serving on the parks advisory board. I served on the [Moon Township] Municipal Authority for 10 years. I guess the number one thing with getting involved is that it helps you contribute to the community, and I think you always gain a lot by getting out and meeting people in the township." 

Biggest issues the board might face this year: "I think some of the biggest issues will be infrastructure. Some of our buildings need some repair, whether its the physical structure or the appearance, especially at the and the . I think probably we may see more development as the economy is starting to change, so we'll deal with that. There are issues with traffic, and we've got a couple of intersections that we need to talk about improving. I hope we can work together perhaps better with the school district than we have in the past, and I assume that Marcellus shale is an issue that we'll be addressing this year."

On being appointed chairman: "The way it works is we have five elected officials who all have the same voting power. What does it really mean to be chairman? Well, you're able to direct things a little more than a board member, I think. I guess it provides an opportunity to steer the board." 

On common feedback he receives from residents: "People want to be confident in the board's ability to function and act in the best interest of the township. We don't get a whole lot of people who come to the meetings. They might watch it on TV, but they don't hear what goes on in workshop meetings or budget meetings. Sometimes they can't make it or they have children or whatever the case may be, and I think those people look to elected officials who are going to act in their best interest."