By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Town Council is still looking at restricting how what a councilman described as “transient car dealerships” can do business in the town, but warned they need to be careful not to violate constitutional rights.

“We do have to be careful not violating first amendment rights as far as commercial freedom of speech, as well as discrimination,” Councilman Samuel Carbone said an Association of Towns attorney told him.

“I don’t understand how an ordnance like this would affect the first amendment,” Councilman John Macaulay said. “We have all kinds of ordnances in place.”

The town is looking at making a local law because Rochester-based Vision Auto Group has been selling cars in Massena. Town Supervisor Joseph Gray said their sales tax and registration fees are going to the company’s home county.

“Sales tax is supposed to be a point-of-sale tax,” Gray said. “The sale happens here. The sales tax should stay here.”

Carbone said some county officials told him their people may look at making a law because they are also getting shortchanged.

In January, Frank Lallier of Blevins Seaway Motors told the board that Vision is taking sales away from local car dealerships.