HALIFAX COUNTY, N.C. — The Halifax County Community College Board of Trustees has postponed a vote on a new set of by-laws critics say would stifle open debate. The trustee's policy issue comes as the school and county commissioners confront a spending problem.

Trustee Jack Moore said board chairman Kenneth Brantly and president Ted Gasper are responsible for the college's money problems.

"Money is being spent. We're out of budget. We've got to get the commissioners to bail us out," Moore said.

Moore openly criticized Gasper for spending $5,000 on outside legal fees for new by-laws that he claims give more power to the president.

Gasper told WRAL the policy change was necessary to comform to state law. He denies the change will give him more power over the trustees.

"It was money well spent. I said that to the county commissioners," Gasper said. "There is no principal change in the policies and procedures. I didn't write any of them. I didn't ask that any sections be written in a certain manner."

Gasper will go before county commissioners next week for an answer to his request for an additional $60,000, so the community college can pay its bills. If the county says no, the college will have to pay its bills late in July when the new fiscal year starts.

Halifax County Community College trustees appointed four of their own members to compare how the proposed by-laws stack up with the policies of neighboring community college systems. A report is expected this summer.