HARRISBURG -- The Fort Pitt Museum soon will be managed by the Sen. John Heinz History Center.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission voted this morning to begin contract negotiations to have the History Center take responsibility for the facility in Pittsburgh's Point State Park.

In its proposal, the History Center estimates that it could operate the museum for half of the current $500,000 cost next year and further reduce that amount over the next decade.

When the museum commission's staff recommended closing the Fort Pitt Museum and five other state-run historic sites as a cost-saving measure, the Heinz History Center and the Friends of the Fort Pitt Museum both proposed rescue plans.

While the museum commission turned down the Friends' proposal, one commission member said he would work to assure that the 700-member booster organization would play a "concrete role" in future operations of the Fort Pitt Museum. Commission member Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, said he was worried the 40-year old Friends group would be excluded.