CITY COUNCIL HOT ABOUT FLORIDA TRIP.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: TIM O'BRIEN Staff writer

Mayor Mark Pattison is under fire from Republican City Council members for accepting a free trip to Florida from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a day after the Planning Commission granted approval to the university's plans for a new biotechnology center.

The $80 million biotechnology center was approved Thursday, and Pattison flew to Florida that same day for a board of trustees meeting at RPI's expense. By virtue of his office, the mayor is a non-voting member of the board.

Council President Harry Tutunjian was critical of Pattison's decision to accept the free trip.

``I believe it is clearly in violation …