The Colton Citizens Committee was founded in 1974 to provide citizen participation in the land use planning process. When Colton's Town Land Use Plan was adopted it was a Plan approved by the Adirondack Park Agency so we had jurisdiction over more of our own Town.
Membership is open to all the people of Colton, resident and non-resident. The primary goal of the Committee is to provide information to Colton residents and taxpayers enabling them to make informed decisions.
The Committee sponsored the first interest meetings of Senior Citizens, the Neighborhood Center, and the Colton Historical Society. After a few years of inactivity, the Committee opposed the use of a chemical spray to control black flies and mosquitoes. As a result, in 1985 the Town began a black fly control program using Bti and has since added mosquito control as well. The Committee also worked for the establishment of the local transfer station we use today. Then, there was a long period of inactivity.
The Committee began meeting again in January 2006 when people who were disheartened with the previous fall election wanted an alternative to Town government that could accomplish some needed goals. Our first year's project has been to bring back Neighborhood Watch to Colton. We have a long way to go with the project but a recent survey indicates good community interest.
In addition to the Committee, a group known as Friends of Dick Owens was formed this January. The group is carrying a petition asking for the reinstatement of Dick as Chair of the Assessors. Too many of the recent decisions in Colton have been made by persons with little or no understanding of the process of property taxation.
The Committee has a policy that we can agree to disagree and has not taken an official position on the Dick Owens petition. We only encourage our members to become informed and take a stand as individuals. Thus, we have established this website to provide information to taxpayers and residents of Colton.