Pittsfield Board of Health reaffirms revocation of Berkshire Pipe & Tobacco’s tobacco permit

The Pittsfield Board of Health voted unanimously Jan. 7 to reaffirm the revocation of Berkshire Pipe & Tobacco’s tobacco permit after staff cited repeated noncompliance and a finding that tobacco products were sold without a Department of Revenue tax stamp.

Board Chairperson Roberta Elliott presided over a discussion in which Health Department staff member Andy Cambi told the board the store failed to appear at the December meeting where the permit had been suspended and later revoked. Owner Nipul Saluja apologized for missing the prior meeting and asked whether any option remained to obtain a permit; board members said local rules and the business’s record of noncompliance left no path to reinstatement.

The board’s decision followed comments from Board Member Dave Pill that an apology holds little weight without behavioral change, and from Board Member Jeffrey Leppo that the establishment had been given multiple chances and a consequence was warranted. A motion to reaffirm the revocation was made by Board Member Dave Pill and seconded by Board Member Jeffrey Leppo; the Board voted unanimously to reaffirm the revocation.

The action means the establishment remains without a city tobacco permit and, according to staff, local regulations prohibit issuing new permits when conditions cited in the revocation remain unaddressed. The Board’s record from the meeting states the revocation stems from selling tobacco without a proper tax stamp while under a permit suspension.

Next steps noted at the meeting: the revocation stands and the Health Department and city regulatory offices will enforce the existing suspension and permit rules. The Board did not specify a timeline for reconsideration or a path for future applicants at the meeting.