HAMPDEN – Three people have filed papers for one seat on the Hampden Town Council, including two candidates who had lost in the last election in November.

The seat on the council opened after William Gamble, who had been elected to the council, announced he would not be able to serve because of health reasons. Nomination papers with the required 50 to 75 signatures were due Jan. 24 with the special election to be held Feb. 11.

Donald M. Desmarais of 6 Charles St. and Dana Skinner of 35 Pleasant St., who both ran unsuccessfully in last fall’s election, have taken out papers for the post as has Andrew Colford of 502 Western Ave. Skinner was running for a second two-year term in the last election.

The open seat will run through December 2004.

Absentee ballots will be available starting Monday, Jan. 27, at the municipal building and these ballots will be accepted until 8 the night of the election. The polls, located in the community room at the municipal office, will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.