Chairperson commenced by welcoming everyone and reminding everyone that they must work together towards their goal. He wants the panel to be productive and to achieve positive results. A new agenda was passed out to the panel listing time frames for each item; all future agendas will have times listed in order to keep meetings focused and moving along. He also stressed the importance of working as a team and looking at the bigger picture.

The District Director, Ellen Murphy, distributed data put together by the District Office Research and Analysis (DORA) Division. The handout gives statistical information about Brooklyn District return filings compared to New York State, Northeast Region and National figures (copy attached). She then distributed the preliminary results of a survey given to approximately 500 citizens (copy attached); Brooklyn District was one of only five districts in the nation to participate in the survey. She will call upon the Panel to get to know District employees and to have the employees know what the CAP is and its purpose. Every opportunity will be taken to have the panel meet with employees and managers. The panel will be called upon to provide suggestions which will impact the IRS for next filing season.

The Regional Taxpayer Advocate, George Deller, addressed the Panel next. He assured them that they would have the full cooperation of all the advocates in the New York Metropolitan area, including Manhattan and Brookhaven Service Center to respond to any problems which may fall within their jurisdiction. He emphasized the fact that the Taxpayer Advocate office has established a good reputation for solving individual's problems, thus the Panel is free to concentrate on the "big picture."

Chairperson asked the panel if they had given information on their contact numbers and addresses to the staff. CAP Manager McKeon acknowledged that such a list had been compiled and would be distributed to the panel for any corrections. A copy was examined by each panel member, who made corrections to the master list, and an updated list was distributed to the panel and staff.

Consensus - Panel members discussed how they should reach consensus on issues, as well as a decision-making process. All panel members agreed with the following process:

1. Consensus - can the panel reach agreement on the issue?
2. Explore other options/Come back again - if consensus cannot be reached, see what other options (sub-committee) are available or table the issue for the next meeting.
3. Vote - if, at the next meeting, the panel still cannot reach consensus, the panel will vote with the simple majority ruling.

Panel member Maher wanted to know how the panel will handle taxpayer issues brought directly to individual panel members.

Panel looked over the consolidated statement put together by Booz-Allen during the CAP kickoff event in March (copy attached). The chairperson read the mission statement of the South Florida District CAP and the panel examined it closely. Several vital words were recorded which may appear in the mission statement. Panel members Fandozzi and Nahikian volunteered to work on a draft statement and will have it ready for the next meeting for the panel's approval.

Vice-chairperson Nahikian expressed concern that IRS is not publicizing the free E-file option offered at IRS offices. The District Director discussed this with the panel and cited the following reasons for not advertising this filing option more: Competition with the practitioner community and lack of manpower. The panel will need to examine this issue.

Chairperson related some of the efforts by the SF CAP to publicize their efforts, i.e.

televised meeting.

The following sub-committees were set up:

Media - Panel members Fandozzi and Maher

1. What you want to say, and
2. How you want to say it.

Follow up: CAP Manager will get a list of media contacts from the communications office to give to the Panel.

The panel asked the Taxpayer Advocate to explain how issues are tracked in the CAP database. The panel wants to see what issues are being handled by the TA. The panel then looked at the National Taxpayer Advocate report. Panel member Mihovich requested the February report by major issue code for the next meeting. A list of the major issue codes was distributed to the panel.

CAP Manager McKeon then discussed the Report of Contacts, which will be provided on a monthly basis and he also explained the process used by the staff to compile this report.

Panel member Aiken requested the new forms for an Offer in Compromise. Panel member Greenberg distributed copies of a revised CAP response letter. The panel was asked to review it and critique it for the next meeting.

Taxpayer Advocate distributed a draft calendar of the upcoming Problem Solving Days. The only definite dates are April 10 and May 15 here in the District Headquarters building.

Chairperson requested that the panel members who attend Problem Solving Day (PSD), provide input back to the full panel at the next meeting. The following panel members volunteered to attend PSD: Aikens, Fandozzi, and Richards.

Chairperson reminded the panel that an important source of feedback to them will be the public forums, which can quickly provide needed input. He suggested that the next public forum, scheduled for September 22, should be held earlier. Several panel members stated that much detailed planning will have to go into such a meeting and if it is moved up, there may not be enough time to do this. The panel decided to table any possible change of date pending information provided by the sub-committees at the next meeting.

Panel member Mihovich presented a proposal to the full panel recommending improvements to the Customer Service Walk-in Unit in Brooklyn District Headquarters. The panel will review this proposal and provide input at the next meeting.

A discussion about a tour of the Brookhaven Service Center will take place at the next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Jim Montes, Chairperson

Brooklyn District Citizens Advocacy Panel

Attachments:

Agenda Items

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