Economic development and health went head to head Tuesday night as members of the City Council pushed back against unwavering health officials. For more than two hours the City Council peppered local and state health officials about tobacco regulations that were implemented in 2014. She was joined by two other city councilors and the mayor in asking the Board of Health to grant the permit anyway. The Board of Health had stuck to its guns and denied the permit as part of the effort to reduce the number of tobacco retailers from the current 51 to 25. The City Council has no authority over Board of Health regulations. The health boards are required by state law and are given the authority to pass regulations that protect public health. According to Tri-Town Health Director Jim Wilusz, Pittsfield has a 23 percent smoking prevalence rate, which is higher than the state average of 17; the adult smoking prevalence is 45 percent higher than the state average; and women smoking while pregnant is 150 percent higher. The group runs compliance checks, requires employees selling the products to take an online certification, and guides the local Boards of Health in policy making decisions to combat secondhand smoke, youth smoking, and adult smoking. “The Board of Health does have the authority to pass local public health laws,” Massachusetts Association of Health Boards Senior Staff Attorney Cheryl Sbarra said. But, many city councilors disagreed that a cap on the number of establishments would make any impact on reducing youth smoking, and the health officials admitted that they have limited data to support the claim that it does. He suggested the Board of Health and the city look at other laws such as passing an ordinance that would penalize someone under the age of 18 for possessing tobacco products instead. Councilor at Large Peter White pointed out “inconsistencies” with the Board of Health’s regulations and noted municipalities were creating different rules. Ward 5 Councilor Donna Todd Rivers said the city is “sandwiched” between the needs of small businesses and public health.