A St. Tammany committee examining the government has voted against reducing the size of the Parish Council, its most controversial question it has debated so far.

It recommends cutting the number of districts and adding two at-large members. Instead of having 14 council members represent 14 different districts, the Home Rule Charter Review Committee recommended having 12 council members who represent 12 districts and two at-large members who represent as-yet undetermined geographic areas.

The question of whether to reduce the size of the council has sparked concern over the representation of rural areas and people of color on the council.

“I thought that was a good compromise,” said Parish Council member Joe Impastato, who introduced the motion to recommend a 12-2 council structure.

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