Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
DICERBO NICHOLAS A
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC [CBU]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
2835 WEST RIVER ROAD
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/23/2008
(Street)

OLEAN, NY 14760
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               89,421.7624 (1) D  
Common Stock               98,995.6276 (2) I By Law Firm (Partner)
Common Stock               1,856.4768 (3) I By Spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation) (4) 05/23/2008   A   253.0578     (4)   (4) Common Stock 253.0578 $ 23.71 35,318.8402 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
DICERBO NICHOLAS A
2835 WEST RIVER ROAD
OLEAN, NY 14760
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Donna J. Drengel, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney for Nicholas A. DiCerbo   05/28/2008
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 701.627 shares acquired on April 10, 2008 under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(2) Includes 706.096 shares acquired on April 10, 2008 under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(3) Includes 11.217 shares acquired on April 10, 2008 under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(4) Each unit of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock. The units of phantom stock relating to the Deferred Compensation Plan will be settled in Community Bank System, Inc. common stock at a future date selected by the reporting person.

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