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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;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">January 29, 2010</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" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Community
  Bank System, Inc.</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="75%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Delaware</font></font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">001-13695</font></font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">&#160;16-1213679</font></font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(State or
        other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(Commission
        File Number)</font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(IRS Employer
        Identification No.)</font></td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div>&#160;</div>
      <div align="center">
        <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="75%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr>
              <td width="67%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">5790 Widewaters Parkway,
        DeWitt, New York</font></font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">13214</font></font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="67%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(Address of
        principal executive offices)</font></td>
              <td width="33%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(Zip
        Code)</font></td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div>&#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"><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>
      <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">(Former
  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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):</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;" 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;" 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;&#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; 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: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1</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; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <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-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
  5.02(e)&#160;&#160;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: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
  January 29, 2010, Community Bank System, Inc. (&#8220;Company&#8221;) and the Company&#8217;s
  subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. (&#8220;Bank&#8221;), entered into an Employment Agreement
  with Brian D. Donahue, as the Bank&#8217;s Executive Vice President and Chief Banking
  Officer (the &#8220;Agreement&#8221;).&#160;&#160;The Agreement supersedes the expired
  employment agreement, effective August 1, 2004, as amended December 31, 2008,
  among the Company, the Bank, and Mr. Donahue.&#160;&#160;The new agreement
  generally continues the format and terms of the prior agreement.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
  Agreement provides that Mr. Donahue shall serve as the Executive Vice President
  and Chief Banking Officer of the Company and the Bank during the period from
  January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012.&#160;&#160;The Company shall pay a base
  salary at an annual rate of <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">$</font>263,000, which will be
  reviewed and adjusted in future years in accordance with the Company&#8217;s regular
  payroll practices for executive employees.&#160;&#160;Mr. Donahue will be
  eligible to receive annual incentive compensation under the terms of the
  Company&#8217;s Management Incentive Plan (&#8220;MIP&#8221;).&#160;&#160;The Agreement may be
  terminated by the Company for cause at any time, and shall terminate upon Mr.
  Donahue&#8217;s death or disability.&#160;&#160;In the event that the Company
  terminates Mr. Donahue without cause, he shall be entitled to the greater of (i)
  the sum of his annual base salary at the time of termination and the most recent
  payment to him under the MIP, or (ii) amounts of base salary and expected MIP
  payments payable to Mr. Donahue through the unexpired term of his
  employment.&#160;&#160;In the event that Mr. Donahue&#8217;s employment is terminated
  solely because the Company elects not to renew or extend the Agreement at the
  end of its term for reasons other than cause, Mr. Donahue is entitled to
  severance pay equal to 175% of the sum of his then current base salary plus the
  most recent payment to him under the MIP.&#160;&#160;If Mr. Donahue&#8217;s employment
  is terminated for reasons other than cause, death, or disability within two
  years following a change in control, or if Mr. Donahue resigns during this
  period based upon an involuntary and material adverse change in his authority,
  duties, responsibilities,&#160;base compensation,&#160;or the geographic
  location of his office, the Company will pay him an amount equal to three times
  his then current base salary plus his annual bonus for the year immediately
  preceding the change in control, will provide fringe benefits for a 36 month
  period, will permit him to dispose of any restricted stock previously granted to
  him, and his stock options will become fully exercisable.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
  foregoing description of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms
  of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as an exhibit to this filing and
  incorporated herein by reference.</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-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Item
  9.01&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(d)&#160;&#160;Exhibits:</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 48px">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
        </font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 167px">
                <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">10.1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td width="766">
                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Employment
        Agreement, dated January 29, 2010, by and among Community Bank System,
        Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Brian D.
  Donahue.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </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; 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: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">2</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; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <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">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: 36pt; 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">&#160;</div>
      <div>&#160;</div>
      <div align="center">
        <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Community
        Bank System, Inc.</font></font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;By:<font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;/s/
        Mark E. Tryniski</font></font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;Name:&#160;&#160;Mark
        E. Tryniski</font></td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="50%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;Title:&#160;&#160;President
        and Chief Executive Officer</font></td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <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">&#160;</font></div>
      <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">&#160;</font></div>
      <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;February
  2, 2010</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></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; 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: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">3</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; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;
  </font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <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: -36pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">EXHIBIT
  INDEX</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br></div>
      <div>&#160;</div>
      <div align="center">
        <table bgcolor="white" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr>
              <td width="3%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
              <td width="44%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Exhibit
        No.</font></font></font></td>
              <td width="53%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Description</font></font></font></td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
  <tr valign="top">
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                <div align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Employment
        Agreement, dated January 29, 2010, by and among Community Bank System,
        Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Brian D.
  Donahue.</font></div>
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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": "10571457"}, "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: form8k2010donahue.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):
  January 29, 2010
  Community
  Bank System, Inc.
  (Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  001-13695
  16-1213679
  (State or
        other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  (Commission
        File Number)
  (IRS Employer
        Identification No.)
  5790 Widewaters Parkway,
        DeWitt, New York
  13214
  (Address of
        principal 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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
  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))
  1
  Item
  5.02(e)  Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  On
  January 29, 2010, Community Bank System, Inc. ("Company") and the Company's
  subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. ("Bank"), entered into an Employment Agreement
  with Brian D. Donahue, as the Bank's Executive Vice President and Chief Banking
  Officer (the "Agreement").  The Agreement supersedes the expired
  employment agreement, effective August 1, 2004, as amended December 31, 2008,
  among the Company, the Bank, and Mr. Donahue.  The new agreement
  generally continues the format and terms of the prior agreement.
  The
  Agreement provides that Mr. Donahue shall serve as the Executive Vice President
  and Chief Banking Officer of the Company and the Bank during the period from
  January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012.  The Company shall pay a base
  salary at an annual rate of
  $
  263,000, which will be
  reviewed and adjusted in future years in accordance with the Company's regular
  payroll practices for executive employees.  Mr. Donahue will be
  eligible to receive annual incentive compensation under the terms of the
  Company's Management Incentive Plan ("MIP").  The Agreement may be
  terminated by the Company for cause at any time, and shall terminate upon Mr.
  Donahue's death or disability.  In the event that the Company
  terminates Mr. Donahue without cause, he shall be entitled to the greater of (i)
  the sum of his annual base salary at the time of termination and the most recent
  payment to him under the MIP, or (ii) amounts of base salary and expected MIP
  payments payable to Mr. Donahue through the unexpired term of his
  employment.  In the event that Mr. Donahue's employment is terminated
  solely because the Company elects not to renew or extend the Agreement at the
  end of its term for reasons other than cause, Mr. Donahue is entitled to
  severance pay equal to 175% of the sum of his then current base salary plus the
  most recent payment to him under the MIP.  If Mr. Donahue's employment
  is terminated for reasons other than cause, death, or disability within two
  years following a change in control, or if Mr. Donahue resigns during this
  period based upon an involuntary and material adverse change in his authority,
  duties, responsibilities, base compensation, or the geographic
  location of his office, the Company will pay him an amount equal to three times
  his then current base salary plus his annual bonus for the year immediately
  preceding the change in control, will provide fringe benefits for a 36 month
  period, will permit him to dispose of any restricted stock previously granted to
  him, and his stock options will become fully exercisable.
  The
  foregoing description of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the terms
  of such agreement, a copy of which is attached as an exhibit to this filing and
  incorporated herein by reference.
  Item
  9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits
  (d)  Exhibits:
  10.1
  Employment
        Agreement, dated January 29, 2010, by and among Community Bank System,
        Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Brian D.
  Donahue.
  2
  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:  February
  2, 2010
  3
  EXHIBIT
  INDEX
  Exhibit
        No.
  Description
  10.1
  Employment
        Agreement, dated January 29, 2010, by and among Community Bank System,
        Inc., Community Bank, N.A. and Brian D.
  Donahue.
  4