A planned regional 911 emergency dispatch center for Hingham, Norwell, Hull, and Cohasset seems all but certain to miss a July first target for opening.

Some town officials now say a September or December launch appears more likely for the center.

Three of the communities have signed an agreement that would create a regional authority to run the center, which would be based in Hingham. Norwell has not yet signed on, but selectmen say the town is moving closer to doing so.

The four towns collectively employ 30 dispatchers, but the new center is expected to need just 17 full-time positions. Hiring could be done by seniority, or all the dispatchers could be laid off and required to reapply. Those hired would then need to negotiate a new contract with the dispatch center's governing agency, which has not yet been appointed.

Because town officials can't enter a regionalized entity without legislative approval, state lawmakers need to pass a bill that would authorize the inter-municipal agreement.

That legislation was filed only last week and could take months to pass.

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