FARMINGTON — Erosion along the Sandy River in Farmington Falls has recently increased after heavy rains and a tropical storm this fall.

Selectmen will review recommendations on how to deal with the quick dropping of a riverbank within 50 feet of Whittier Road, Denis Castonguay, public works director, said Monday.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Municipal Building, discuss options for stabilizing the banking and decide whether to engage an engineering firm from Poland Spring, Jones Associates, Inc. It’s the first step, he said.

Trees now toppled down the banking and touching the river were recently standing tall on land above the river. Since Tropical Storm Irene and heavy rains in the area, the erosion rate has increased, Castonguay said. 

The riverbank that is now a concern is near the corner of Whittier Road and Route 156. The bank is unstable and could jeopardize that portion of Whittier Road without some work, he said.

Representatives from the Department of Environmental Engineering, the Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Emergency Management Agency have visited the site, he said.

The engineering firm will provide recommendations and will work with the above agencies, securing all necessary permits, if the board decides to engage their services, he said.

The potential cost to the town is not yet available.

Castonguay said he intends to bring it to the board so “they can discuss it and decide which step to take next.”

In other business, the board will review sewer connection fees and approve wage and salary adjustments, based on the Consumer Price Index, for 2012 for town employees.