UTICA -- The Utica Common Council met at Utica's City Hall Wednesday to discuss their plans for the new year.

The session served as an initial meeting to welcome newly elected council members, as well as to vote on routine ordinances and resolutions.

At the meeting residents were given a platform to discuss their concerns for the city.

Newly elected councilor, Bob DeSanctis, says one of his goals for the new year is to help the city with budget management.

"We'll be getting ready for the budget," DeSanctis said. "We did receive the audit from last year's budget. We had another surplus. The city had their sixth year of surplus in a row. And we'll be going through that audit and be trying to craft the mayor's budget for the upcoming budget season, which will begin on April first."

According to Desanctis, taxpayers should receive the services within the city that they are expecting, and he hopes to be apart of making that happen for local residents.

He also says that when it comes to controversial issues being carried into the new year, such as term limit extensions, he doesn't believe that there will be a change.