Longtime Warrenton City Attorney Christopher Graville is declining to renew his contract for service with the city, ending a 16-year advisory relationship.
Graville was appointed as the Warrenton …
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Longtime Warrenton City Attorney Christopher Graville is declining to renew his contract for service with the city, ending a 16-year advisory relationship.
Graville was appointed as the Warrenton municipal prosecutor in 2004, and added the role of city attorney to his duties in 2006, according to Warrenton City Administrator Brandie Walters. Graville has also served as the attorney for several other St. Louis-region municipalities during that same time period.
Beginning last week, Warrenton City Hall began distributing requests for proposals for city attorney and prosecuting attorney services. On Monday, Walters confirmed to The Record that Graville will not renew his contract with the city when it ends on Oct. 5.
The city attorney is not actually an employee of the city government, but rather a contracted consultant who is relied on for their expertise in drafting ordinances, reviewing city policies and representing the city in certain legal negotiations. The prosecuting attorney represents the city government in municipal court cases related to ordinance violations such as speeding or building code infractions.
Graville fulfilled both attorney roles for Warrenton, but the city is offering them as separate opportunities while awaiting proposals for the services.
During his time as city attorney, Graville has taken an active approach to his advisory role, frequently consulting with city staff on policy questions and taking a vocal part in discussions of the Warrenton Board of Aldermen. Elected leaders have relied on Graville as a source of institutional knowledge regarding the passage and justification of Warrenton city ordinances, and often call on him to address questions raised by members of the public.
Because of the vocal role he takes in city deliberations and policy making, Graville has also at times become a target of criticism related to controversial decisions. Last year when Graville’s contract was up for annual renewal, recently elected Alderman Steven Cullom made several comments associating Graville with city actions that Cullom had criticized as a candidate, then voted against renewing Graville’s contract.
Prior to opening a private practice as a municipal attorney, Graville served as an assistant prosecutor in the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
