Mansfield Board of Health suspends Town News tobacco permit, levies $5,000 fine

MANSFIELD -- May 14, 2026, Mansfield Board of Health fines Town News $5,000 and suspends its tobacco permit for two days after a third violation in two years. Regional health inspector Paul Gilpin of the Bristol-Norfolk Public Health Partners Coalition observed a customer walk behind the counter of the store, open unlocked cigar humidors without staff present, and purchase cigars without being carded during a routine food inspection on April 7. Health Director Amy Costello noted the $5,000 fine is set by state law and cannot be varied; the board voted unanimously to add a two-day permit suspension, with members warning owner Dinesh Patel that a fourth violation triggers automatic revocation. The board also declined to extend a May 15 compliance deadline for Mansfield Whip and Smoke, whose owner Gris Patel sought more time to sell nicotine pouches lacking FDA marketing authorization, with one member noting all other local retailers had already come into compliance.