NORTHUMBERLAND — The historic Joseph Priestley House may remain open if a plan developed by the Friends of the Joseph Priestley House can be implemented.

The partnership agreement, developed by the local group with the aid of a consultant, was accepted by the state Historical and Museum Commission at a meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, according to Tom Bresenhan of Lewisburg, a member of the Friends board.

“The Friends would manage programming, while the commission would own the property and the collection and be responsible for maintenance of the site,” Bresenhan said.

Bresenhan said many details remain to be worked out, and no timeline was set to implement a plan. The Joseph Priestley House, at 472 Priestley Ave., currently has two staff members, and its 2006-2007 operating budget was $142,901. About 1,500 people visited the site in 2008.

In March, the PHMC released a study that included recommendations to close six sites, including the Priestley House.

The commission held a public meeting in Northumberland on April 6, which was attended by well over 100 area residents and other interested parties, during which several suggestions were offered as ways to keep the site in operation.

Kirk Wilson, a PHMC spokesman, said Friday the commission has “authorized its staff to continue a dialogue with the Friends of Priestley House.”

Wilson said the friends group suggested the site become a science education center. The commission recommended the friends continue to work with the CSIU, local school districts, the Northumberland County Historical Society, the American Chemical Society and similar interest groups to develop a viable operating plan.

He said the commission would continue to own and maintain the site and its collection, while the local group would take over programming. He said a detailed operating plan has not yet been developed.

“We left the meeting feeling OK,” said Bresenhan. “A staff member has been assigned to us, but no time frame has been set for anything yet.”