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

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * CANTWELL PAUL M JR   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) 37 CONSTABLE STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/01/2009 (Street) MALONE, NY 12953 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 01/01/2009   M   786 A $ 0 (1) 103,886 D   Common Stock               10,450 I By Spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

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

Stock Option

$ 18.08

01/29/2009

A

4,822

01/29/2009

01/29/2019

Common Stock

4,822

$ 0

4,822

D

Phantom Stock (Stock Balance Plan)

(2)

01/29/2009

A

590.31

(2)

(2)

Common Stock

590.31

$ 0

3,718.85

D

Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)

(3)

01/01/2009

M

786.5066

(3)

(3)

Common Stock

786.5066

$ 0

4,687.9966

D

Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)

(3)

01/09/2009

A

54.4234

(3)

(3)

Common Stock

54.4234

$ 22.13

4,742.42

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CANTWELL PAUL M JR 37 CONSTABLE STREET MALONE, NY 12953	X

Signatures

/s/ Donna J. Drengel, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney for Paul M. Cantwell, Jr.		02/02/2009
**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)	Each deferred stock unit entitles the reporting person to receive one share of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock. On January 1, 2009, the reporting person's deferred stock units were settled for an equal number of shares and cash for .5066 shares at $24.39 per share.
(2)	Each phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock. Phantom Stock (Stock Balance Plan) may be settled upon the later of the reporting person's attainment of age 55 or termination of service on Community Bank System, Inc.'s Board of Directors.
(3)	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 future dates selected by the reporting person.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.