DETROIT, March 19, 2009 (AP): A five-member committee tasked with running Detroit's Cobo Center is moving forward despite a legal challenge to the group's existence.

The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press report the Cobo authority met for the first time Thursday. The group elected a chairman, approved bylaws and set its meeting schedule.

A Wayne County Circuit judge next week is expected to hear a lawsuit filed by the Detroit City Council to block the state's plan to transfer the downtown convention center to the authority.

A council vote shooting down the plan was vetoed by Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr.

The authority is to take over Cobo's operations on April 20. It is made up of representatives from the city, state, and Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.