Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. POWNAL â After another setback, Pownal officials say the new town office project is again moving forward toward substantial completion this year. The Select Board announced at an April 22 meeting that the original contractor, Messina Builders, had bowed out of the extensively delayed project, which initially was expected to break ground by early 2020, and that efforts were underway to find a replacement. A new contractor, Aaron Gilbert of Pownal, is now on board, according to board liaison Rebecca Dragon. She added this week that the overall project costs will remain the same as the figures approved by voters this spring at town meeting, and financing and construction details are essentially the same.