<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001169232-05-005567
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20051202
<ITEMS>1.01
<ITEMS>5.02
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20051205
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051205
<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
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13695
<FILM-NUMBER>051242748
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5790 WIDEWATERS PKWY
<CITY>DEWITT
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13214
<PHONE>8007242262
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY
<CITY>DEWITT
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13214
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d66137_8k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT
<TEXT>

                                  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 2, 2005

                           COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                 001-13695                    16-1213679
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission                (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)           File Number)              Identification No.)

       5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York           13214-1883
        (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (315) 445-2282


          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (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:

|_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

|_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

      On December 1, 2005, Community Bank System, Inc. ("CBSI") announced that
Sanford A. Belden, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CBSI and its
subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. ("CBNA"), has elected to retire from his
current management positions with CBSI and CBNA, effective as of July 31, 2006.
Following his retirement, Mr. Belden will continue to serve as a director and
Vice Chair of CBSI's Board of Directors, and he will chair a newly-created Board
committee focused on growth and acquisition initiatives and related integration
activities. As part of its succession plan, the

<PAGE>

Board announced that Mark E. Tryniski, Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of CBSI, will become President and CEO of CBSI and CBNA
effective upon Mr. Belden's retirement date.

      Consistent with the provisions of Mr. Belden's Employment Agreement, dated
March 1, 2004, CBSI and Mr. Belden are entering into an Addendum to the
Employment Agreement effective as of December 1, 2005 to affirm the retirement
provisions of the Employment Agreement. Upon his retirement date, Mr. Belden
will enter into a Consulting Agreement with CBSI and CBNA whereby Mr. Belden
will serve as a consultant for a period of three years for a monthly consulting
fee of $4,000. Mr. Belden will not be entitled to any compensation for his
services as a member of the Board of Directors while he is serving as a
consultant. The remaining material terms of Mr. Belden's Employment Agreement
and Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement are unchanged and are described in
CBSI's proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 7, 2005.

      Also effective as of December 1, 2005, CBSI and CBNA amended the existing
Employment Agreement, dated March 8, 2004, with Mark E. Tryniski, providing for
Mr. Tryniski to become President and Chief Executive Office of CBSI and CBNA
effective upon Mr. Belden's retirement date. Under the revised Employment
Agreement, the term of Mr. Tryniski's Employment Agreement has been extended
until December 31, 2008. From December 1, 2005 until he assumes the duties of
President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tryniski's base salary has been
increased from $300,000 to $325,000 per year and, effective upon his assumption
of President and CEO duties, it will be increased to $400,000 per year. In
connection with Mr. Tryniski assuming the position as President and CEO, he will
be appointed to the Board of Directors of CBSI and CBNA. The remaining material
terms of the March 8, 2004 Employment Agreement are unchanged and are described
in CBSI's proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 7, 2005.

      Also consistent with its succession plan, CBSI announced that James A.
Wears, President, New York Banking, and Michael A. Patton, President, Financial
Services, will be retiring as of December 31, 2005.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Principal Officers.

      (b) As stated in Item 1.01 above, CBSI announced that Sanford A. Belden,
President and CEO of CBSI and CBNA has elected to retire from his current
management positions effective July 31, 2006.

      (c) As part of CBSI's succession plan, Mark E. Tryniski, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of CBSI, will become President and Chief
Executive Officer of CBSI and CBNA effective upon Mr. Belden's retirement date.
Mr. Tryniski, age 45, has served as CBSI's Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer since February 2004 and prior to that served as the Chief
Financial Officer since joining CBSI in June 2003. Prior to joining CBSI, Mr.
Tryniski was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers serving clients in the
banking and financial services area. A brief description of the material terms
of Mr. Tryniski's Employment Agreement are set forth in Item 1.01 above. A copy
of the amended employment agreements for Messrs. Tryniski, Belden, Wears and
Patton will be filed as soon as available as an amendment to this Form 8-K
filing.

      The public announcement was made by means of a news release, the text of
which is set forth in Exhibit 99 hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)   The following exhibit is filed as a part of this report:

<PAGE>

Exhibit No.       Description

99                Press Release, dated December 1, 2005

                                   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.


Date: December 2, 2005             /s/ Sanford A. Belden
                                   ---------------------
                                   Sanford A. Belden, President, Chief Executive
                                   Officer and Director


Date: December 2, 2005             /s/ Scott A. Kingsley
                                   ---------------------
                                   Scott A. Kingsley, Executive Vice President
                                   and Chief Financial Officer
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>d66137_ex99.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>

                                                                      Exhibit 99

[LOGO]                                  For further information, please contact:
                                                          Mr. Sanford A. Belden,
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.                  President & Chief Executive Officer
5790 Widewaters Parkway,                                  Office: (315) 445-7304
DeWitt, N.Y. 13214                                      OR Mr. Mark E. Tryniski,
                              Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
                                                          Office: (315) 445-7378

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION PLAN

      Syracuse, N.Y. - Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) today announced
that Sanford A. Belden, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company,
has elected to retire from his management positions with the company (CBU) and
its subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., as of July 31, 2006. Following his
retirement, Mr. Belden will continue to serve as a director and Vice Chair of
CBU's Board of Directors, and he will chair a newly-created Board committee
focused on growth and acquisition initiatives and related integration
activities. As part of its deliberative succession plan, which included several
other senior-level staffing decisions made in 2003-2004, the Board announced
that Mark E. Tryniski, CBU's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer, will become President and CEO of the company and Community Bank, N.A.
upon Mr. Belden's retirement.

      Mr. Belden, 63, has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the
company and the bank since 1992. Over that period, CBU has produced compound
annual rates of return to shareholders of 17%, and has grown its assets from
$640 million to $4.2 billion and its branch offices from 32 to 130. He also
directed the successful completion of 15 acquisitions, which included several
whole-bank, multi-branch and financial services transactions, resulting in an
organization that today is nearly 14 times larger in terms of market
capitalization.

<PAGE>

      Mr. Belden commented, "I am very proud of all that we have accomplished
together, particularly the marvelous contributions our employees have made to
our customers and the communities where we do business - all while creating
significant value for our shareholders. While I look forward to enjoying more
time with my family and my increased involvement in charitable and other
professional interests, I also look forward to the company's continued growth
and success under Mark Tryniski's able leadership and the capable and seasoned
management we have put in place. We have developed a strong team that is focused
on continuing CBU's long-term profitability, and it is their skill and
dedication which permit me to take a less active role at this time."

      Mr. James A. Gabriel, Chairman of the Board, commented, "Over the last 13
years, Sandy has guided the bank through its growth from a small, dispersed
community bank to a cohesive high-performance regional community bank listed on
the New York Stock Exchange. We look forward to Sandy's continued stewardship as
a director, and have complete confidence that the company will continue on its
successful path under Mark's leadership."

      Mr. Tryniski, 45, has served as the company's Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer since February 2004 and, prior to that, as its Chief
Financial Officer since joining CBU in 2003. Before this, Mr. Tryniski, a
Central New York native, was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, serving
clients in the banking and financial services areas.

      Also consistent with its succession plan, the company announced that James
A. Wears, President, New York Banking, and Michael A. Patton, President,
Financial Services, will be retiring as of December 31, 2005.

      Mr. Belden stated, "Jim and Mike have each given over 30 years of
dedicated and effective service to Community Bank, its predecessor
organizations, and the communities which

<PAGE>

they have served. They deserve a large measure of the credit for the many
accomplishments our team has collectively enjoyed over the years, and we wish
them all the best in their well- deserved retirement. Among their lasting
legacies are the capable and self-sufficient teams they have led in each of
their respective areas, which we are confident will carry on in an effective and
efficient fashion."

      Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) is a registered bank holding
company based in DeWitt, N.Y. Its wholly-owned banking subsidiary has $4.2
billion in assets and 130 customer facilities across Upstate New York, where it
operates as Community Bank, N.A., and Northeastern Pennsylvania, where it
operates as First Liberty Bank & Trust. For further information, please visit
our websites at: www.communitybankna.com or www.firstlibertybank.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following factors, among
others, could cause the actual results of CBU's operations to differ materially
from CBU's expectations: the successful integration of operations of its
acquisitions; competition; changes in economic conditions, interest rates and
financial markets; and changes in legislation or regulatory requirements. CBU
does not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements.

                                      # # #
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
