SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Lemchak Joseph Jonathon

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

4482 YOUNG ROAD

(Street)

SYRACUSE

13215

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
10/20/2004

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC [ CBU ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Chief Investment Officer

5. If Amendment, Date of 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

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	400	D
Common Stock	1,851.31⁽¹⁾	I	By 401(K) Plan

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Stock Option	⁽²⁾	01/01/2010	Common Stock	1,248	$11.5625	D
Stock Option	⁽³⁾	01/01/2011	Common Stock	3,158	$12.375	D
Stock Option	⁽⁴⁾	01/01/2012	Common Stock	5,314	$13.1	D
Stock Option	⁽⁵⁾	01/01/2013	Common Stock	9,348	$15.675	D
Stock Option	⁽⁶⁾	01/01/2014	Common Stock	8,232	$24.15	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The number of shares reported herein were acquired pursuant to Community Bank System, Inc.'s 401(K) Plan and are based on a current plan statement.

2. The option vests in two equal installments on January 1, 2004 and 2005.

3. The option vests in two equal installments on January 1, 2005 and 2006.

4. The option vests in four equal installments on January 1, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

5. The option vests in five equal installments on January 1, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

6. The option vests in five equal installments on January 21, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Remarks:

	Donna J. Drengel, attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney	10/29/2004
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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 Number.