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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNITED
  STATES</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">WASHINGTON,
  D.C.&#160;&#160;20549</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">__________________</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FORM
  8-K</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CURRENT
  REPORT</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
  to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date of
  Report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">December 31, 2008</font></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Community Bank System,
  Inc.</font></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
      </div>
      <div>&#160;</div>
      <div align="center">
        <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
            <tr>
              <td width="27%">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;Delaware</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;001-13695</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">16-1213679&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td width="27%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(State or other
        jurisdiction&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(Commission&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(IRS
        Employer&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td width="27%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">of
        incorporation)&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">File
        Number)&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Identification
        No.)&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td width="27%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td width="27%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New
        York</font>&#160;</font></div>
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              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">13214&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td width="27%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(Address of
        principle executive offices)&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="40%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="33%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
                <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(Zip
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            </tr>
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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registrant&#8217;s
  telephone number, including area code: <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(315) 445-2282</font></font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 180pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Not
  Applicable</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
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  name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Check the
  appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
  provisions:</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;</font>Written
  communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
  230.425)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;</font>Soliciting
  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.14a-12)</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;Pre-commencement
  communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline;" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160; Pre-commencement
  communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.13e-4(c))</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
  5.02&#160;&#160;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of
  Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
  Officers.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">(b)</font>&#160;</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;On
  December 31, 2008, William M. Dempsey retired as a member of Community Bank
  System, Inc.&#8217;s (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) Board of Directors (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) in accordance
  with the Company&#8217;s mandatory retirement policy for
  directors.&#160;&#160;Pursuant to the Company&#8217;s Bylaws, a director is required
  to retire from the Board on December 31st of the year in which he or she attains
  the age of 70.&#160;&#160;Mr. Dempsey has been a member of the Board since 1984,
  and his retirement is not the result of any disagreement with the
  Company.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;As
  previously reported by the Company on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission on November 24, 2008, the Company increased the size of the
  Company&#8217;s Board and appointed, effective as of January 1, 2009, James W. Gibson,
  Jr., CPA and James A. Wilson, CPA, CFE to the Company&#8217;s
  Board.&#160;&#160;Messrs. Gibson and Wilson have been appointed by the Board to
  serve on the Board&#8217;s Audit/Compliance/Risk Management Committee.&#160;&#160;For
  additional details regarding the new directors, please refer to the Form 8-K
  filed on November 24, 2008.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
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        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 72pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div align="center">
        <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%">
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 558px">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;
        </font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="424">
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Community
        Bank System, Inc.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 558px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="424"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 558px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="424"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;<font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">By:<font style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">/s/ Mark E.
        Tryniski</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 558px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="424"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;<font style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Name:
        Mark E. Tryniski</font></font></td>
            </tr>
            <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 558px"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="424"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;<font id="TAB2" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;Title:
        President and Chief Executive Officer</font></td>
            </tr>
        </table>
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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>
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      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -36pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Dated:&#160;&#160;January
  7, 2009</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div><br>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8kitem502.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K ITEM 5.02", "secsgml_size_bytes": 20076}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC", "cik": "0000723188", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "161213679", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-13695", "film-number": "09513231"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5790 WIDEWATERS PKWY", "city": "DEWITT", "state": "NY", "zip": "13214", "phone": "8007242262"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY", "city": "DEWITT", "state": "NY", "zip": "13214"}}
text: form8kitem502.htm
  UNITED
  STATES
  SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON,
  D.C.  20549
  __________________
  FORM
  8-K
  CURRENT
  REPORT
  Pursuant
  to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of
  Report (Date of earliest event reported):
  December 31, 2008
  Community Bank System,
  Inc.
  (Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  001-13695
  16-1213679
  (State or other
        jurisdiction
  (Commission
  (IRS
        Employer
  of
        incorporation)
  File
        Number)
  Identification
        No.)
  5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New
        York
  13214
  (Address of
        principle executive offices)
  (Zip
        Code)
  Registrant's
  telephone number, including area code:
  (315) 445-2282
  Not
  Applicable
  (Former
  name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Check the
  appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
  provisions:
  o
  Written
  communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
  230.425)
  o
  Soliciting
  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement
  communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement
  communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.13e-4(c))
  Item
  5.02  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of
  Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
  Officers.
  (b)
  On
  December 31, 2008, William M. Dempsey retired as a member of Community Bank
  System, Inc.'s (the "Company") Board of Directors (the "Board") in accordance
  with the Company's mandatory retirement policy for
  directors.  Pursuant to the Company's Bylaws, a director is required
  to retire from the Board on December 31st of the year in which he or she attains
  the age of 70.  Mr. Dempsey has been a member of the Board since 1984,
  and his retirement is not the result of any disagreement with the
  Company.
  (d)           As
  previously reported by the Company on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission on November 24, 2008, the Company increased the size of the
  Company's Board and appointed, effective as of January 1, 2009, James W. Gibson,
  Jr., CPA and James A. Wilson, CPA, CFE to the Company's
  Board.  Messrs. Gibson and Wilson have been appointed by the Board to
  serve on the Board's Audit/Compliance/Risk Management Committee.  For
  additional details regarding the new directors, please refer to the Form 8-K
  filed on November 24, 2008.
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant
  to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
  duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
  duly authorized.
  Community
        Bank System, Inc.
  By:
  /s/ Mark E.
        Tryniski
  Name:
        Mark E. Tryniski
  Title:
        President and Chief Executive Officer
  Dated:  January
  7, 2009