Exhibit 10.21

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

            This Employment Agreement is between (i) COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM,
INC., a Delaware corporation and registered bank holding company, and COMMUNITY
BANK, N.A., a national banking association, both having offices located in
Dewitt, New York (collectively, the "Employer"), and (ii) ROBERT P. MATLEY, an
individual currently residing in Dallas, Pennsylvania ("Employee"). This
Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the merger of Community
Bank, N.A. and First Heritage Bank ("Merger").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

            IN CONSIDERATION of the promises and mutual agreements and covenants
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree
as follows:

            1. Employment.

                  (a) Term. Employer shall employ Employee, and Employee shall
serve, as Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer, Pennsylvania
Banking, for Community Bank System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A. for the period
that begins on the date of the closing of the Merger and that ends on December
31, 2007 ("Period of Employment"), subject to termination as provided in
paragraph 3 hereof.

                  (b) Salary. From the effective date of this Agreement through
December 31, 2004, Employer shall pay Employee a base salary at the annual rate
of not less than $140,000 ("Base Salary"). Employee's Base Salary for calendar
years after 2004 shall be

<PAGE>

reviewed and may be increased (but not decreased) annually in accordance with
Employer's regular payroll practices for executive employees.

                  (c) Incentive Compensation. During the Period of Employment,
Employee shall be entitled to annual incentive compensation pursuant to the
terms of the Management Incentive Plan which has been approved by the Board of
Directors of Employer to cover Employee and other key personnel of Employer.
Upon termination of Employee's employment pursuant to subparagraph 3(a), 3(b),
3(c) or 6, Employee shall be entitled to a pro rata portion (based on Employee's
complete months of employment in the applicable year) of the annual incentive
award that is payable with respect to the year during which the termination
occurs or, if the annual award for such year is not determinable at the
termination date, then the immediately prior year's award shall be used to
determine such pro rata portion.

                  (d) Signing Bonus. Employer shall pay Employee $125,000 (less
applicable withholding), as a one-time signing bonus on the closing date of the
Merger and the commencement of Employee's employment with Employer. Employee
acknowledges that the payment made pursuant to this paragraph 1(d) is in
satisfaction of and replaces all bonuses to which Employee may have become
entitled, pursuant to employment and/or stock option agreements between Employee
and First Heritage Bank, upon the exercise of certain options to acquire common
stock of First Heritage Bank. Upon receipt of the payment described in this
paragraph 1(d), Employee agrees that he will not make any claim for any bonus
related to the exercise of any stock option of any type.

            2. Duties during the Period of Employment. Employee shall be
designated as Employer's second-in-command in Pennsylvania and shall have full
responsibility, subject to the control of Employer's President, Pennsylvania
Banking, and/or the authorized designee of


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<PAGE>

Employer's Board of Directors, for the supervision of substantially all aspects
of Employer's credit operations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the
discharge of such other duties and responsibilities to Employer, not
inconsistent with such position, as may from time to time be reasonably assigned
to Employee by Employer's President, Pennsylvania Banking, and/or the authorized
designee of Employer's Board of Directors. Employee shall report to Employer's
President, Pennsylvania Banking, and to Employer's Chief Credit Officer.
Employee shall devote Employee's best efforts to the affairs of Employer, serve
faithfully and to the best of Employee's ability and devote all of Employee's
working time and attention, knowledge, experience and skill to the business of
Employer, except that Employee may provide services to or affiliate with
professional associations, and business, civic and charitable organizations,
provided that such services and affiliations do not unreasonably interfere with
the performance of Employee's duties under this Agreement.

            3. Termination. Employee's employment by Employer shall be subject
to termination as follows:

                  (a) Expiration of the Term. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically at the expiration of the Period of Employment unless the parties
enter into a written agreement extending Employee's employment, except for the
continuing obligations of the parties as specified hereunder.

                  (b) Termination Upon Death. This Agreement shall terminate
upon Employee's death. In the event this Agreement is terminated as a result of
Employee's death, Employer shall continue payments of Employee's Base Salary for
a period of 90 days following Employee's death to the beneficiary designated by
Employee on the "Beneficiary Designation Form" attached to this Agreement as
Appendix A. Employee's beneficiary shall be free to


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<PAGE>

dispose of any restricted stock previously granted to Employee by Employer.
Additionally, Employer shall treat as immediately exercisable all unexpired
stock options issued by Employer and held by Employee that are not exercisable
or that have not been exercised, so as to permit the Beneficiary to purchase the
balance of Community Bank System, Inc. ("CBSI") Stock not yet purchased pursuant
to said options until the end of the full exercise period provided in the
original grant of the option right, determined without regard to Employee's
death or termination of employment.

                  (c) Termination Upon Disability. Employer may terminate this
Agreement upon Employee's disability. For the purpose of this Agreement,
Employee's inability to perform substantially all of Employee's duties under
this Agreement by reason of physical or mental illness or injury for a period of
26 successive weeks (the "Disability Period") shall constitute disability. The
determination of disability shall be made by a physician selected by Employer
and a physician selected by Employee; provided, however, that if the two
physicians so selected shall disagree, the determination of disability shall be
submitted to arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association and the decision of the arbitrator shall be binding and
conclusive on Employee and Employer. During the Disability Period, Employee
shall be entitled to 100% of Employee's Base Salary otherwise payable during
that period, reduced by any other income replacement benefits to which Employee
may be entitled for the Disability Period on account of such disability
(including, but not limited to, benefits provided under any disability insurance
policy or program, worker's compensation law, or any other benefit program or
arrangement). Upon termination pursuant to this disability provision, Employee
shall be free to dispose of any restricted stock granted to Employee.
Additionally, Employer shall treat as immediately exercisable all unexpired
stock options issued


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<PAGE>

by Employer and held by Employee that are not exercisable or that have not been
exercised, so as to permit the Employee to purchase the balance of CBSI Stock
not yet purchased pursuant to said options until the end of the full exercise
period provided in the original grant of the option right, determined without
regard to Employee's disability or termination of employment.

                  (d) Termination for Cause. Employer may terminate Employee's
employment immediately for "Cause" by written notice to Employee. For purposes
of this Agreement, a termination shall be for "Cause" if the termination results
from any of the following events:

                        (i) Material breach of this Agreement which is not cured
within 60 days after Employer gives Employee written notice of such breach;

                        (ii) Documented misconduct of Employee engaging in any
act of dishonesty or criminal conduct;

                        (iii) Continued neglect or refusal to perform the duties
assigned to Employee under or pursuant to this Agreement, unless cured within 60
days after Employer gives Employee written of such neglect or refusal;

                        (iv) Conviction of a felony;

                        (v) Adjudication as a bankrupt, which adjudication has
not been contested in good faith, unless bankruptcy is caused directly by
Employer's unexcused failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement;

                        (vi) Intentional refusal to follow the reasonable,
written instructions of Employer's President, Pennsylvania Banking, the
Employer's Chief Credit Officer and/or the Board of Directors of Employer,
provided that the instructions do not require Employee to engage in unlawful
conduct; or


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<PAGE>

                        (vii) Any documented intentional violation by Employee
of the rules or regulations of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or
of any other regulatory agency.

            Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, if Employee's employment is terminated for Cause, Employee shall
forfeit all rights to payments and benefits otherwise provided pursuant to this
Agreement; provided, however, that Base Salary shall be paid through the date of
termination.

                  (e) Termination For Reasons Other Than Cause. If Employer
terminates Employee's employment for reasons other than Cause, or if Employee
voluntarily terminates his employment for "Good Reason" (as defined in paragraph
6(c) below), in either case on or after the first anniversary of the closing of
the Merger and prior to December 31, 2007, then Employee shall be entitled to a
severance benefit equal to the greater of (i) the sum of the annual Base Salary
in effect at the time of termination and the most recent payment to Employee
under the Management Incentive Plan, payable in equal biweekly installments over
the 12-month period following Employee's termination, or (ii) amounts of Base
Salary and expected Management Incentive Plan payments that otherwise would have
been payable through the balance of the unexpired term of this Agreement,
payable in biweekly installments through the balance of the unexpired term of
this Agreement. In addition, Employer shall: (iii) permit Employee to dispose of
any restricted stock granted to Employee; and (iv) treat as immediately
exercisable all unexpired stock options held by Employee that are not
exercisable or that have not been exercised, so as to permit Employee to
purchase the balance of CBSI Stock not yet purchased pursuant to said options
until the end of the full exercise period provided in the original grant of the
option right determined without regard to Employee's termination of employment.


                                       6
<PAGE>

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employer terminates Employee
for reasons other than Cause, or if Employee voluntarily terminates his
employment for Good Reason, in either case on or after the first anniversary of
the closing of the Merger and prior to December 31, 2007, then amounts payable
under clauses (i) or (ii) of this paragraph 3(e) shall be reduced by any
payments made to Employee under paragraphs 6(a)(i) and (ii). If Employee's
employment terminates prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the
Merger, Employee's sole and exclusive right to payments (if any) shall be
governed by paragraph 3(f).

                  (f) First Heritage Employment Agreement. Employer acknowledges
that Employee could have become entitled to certain severance payments pursuant
to Section 9 of the Employment Agreement between Employee and First Heritage
Bank effective July 1, 1999 ("First Heritage Employment Agreement") as a result
of the Merger, which payments Employee has agreed to waive in connection with
the Merger and the execution of this Agreement. In consideration of such waiver,
(i) in the event that Employee elects to terminate his employment with Employer
prior to this first anniversary of the closing of the Merger, Employer shall pay
to Employee, in equal biweekly installments over a period of one year, an amount
equal to the annual base salary rate in effect on November 1, 2003 and payable
to Employee by First Heritage Bank, and (ii) in the event Employer elects to
terminate Employee's employment with Employer for reasons other than Cause prior
to the first anniversary of the closing of the Merger, Employer shall pay to
Employee, in a single sum at the time of termination, an amount equal to twice
the annual base salary rate in effect on November 1, 2003 and payable to
Employee by First Heritage Bank. Employee shall be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment required under paragraph 3(f)(i) by seeking other
employment.


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<PAGE>

Notwithstanding any other term or provision in this Agreement, Employer and
Employee intend that this paragraph 3(f) shall provide the sole and exclusive
basis for payments to be made by Employer to Employee if Employee's employment
under this Agreement is terminated voluntarily by Employee, or involuntarily by
Employer for reasons other than Cause, prior to the first anniversary of the
closing of the Merger. By way of example, and not limitation, Employee shall not
be entitled to payments under the other subparagraphs of paragraph 3, or under
the provisions of paragraph 6, if benefits are payable pursuant to this
subparagraph 3(f).

                  (g) Expiration of Term Without Renewal. In the event that
Employee's employment ends on December 31, 2007 solely because Employer chooses
not to renew or extend this Agreement beyond December 31, 2007 for reasons other
than Cause, then Employee shall be entitled to a severance benefit equal to the
sum of (i) 175 percent of the annual Base Salary in effect at the time of
termination, and (ii) the most recent payment to Employee under the Management
Incentive Plan, such sum to be payable in equal biweekly installments over the
six-month period following Employee's termination of employment. Amounts payable
under this paragraph 3(g) shall be reduced by any payments made to Employee
under paragraphs 6(a)(i) and (ii).

            4. Fringe Benefits.

                  (a) Benefit Plans. During the Period of Employment, Employee
shall be eligible to participate in any employee pension benefit plans (as that
term is defined under Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended), Employer-paid group life insurance plans, medical
plans, dental plans, long-term disability plans, business travel insurance
programs and other fringe benefit programs maintained by Employer for the
benefit of or which are applicable to its executive employees. Participation in
any of Employer's


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<PAGE>

benefit plans and programs shall be based on, and subject to satisfaction of,
the eligibility requirements and other conditions of such plans and programs.
Employer may require Employee to submit to an annual physical, to be performed
by a physician of his own choosing. Employee shall be reimbursed for related
expenses not covered by Employer's health insurance plan, or any other plan in
which Employee is enrolled. Employee shall not be eligible to participate in
Employer's Severance Pay Plan maintained for employees not covered by employment
agreements.

                  (b) Expenses. Upon submission to Employer of vouchers or other
required documentation, Employee shall be reimbursed for (or Employer shall pay
directly) Employee's actual out-of-pocket travel and other expenses reasonably
incurred and paid by Employee in connection with Employee's duties hereunder.
Reimbursable expenses must be submitted to the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Employer, or the President and Chief Executive Officer's designee,
for review on no less than a quarterly basis.

                  (c) Other Benefits. During the Period of Employment, Employee
also shall be entitled to receive the following benefits:

                        (i) Paid vacation of four weeks during each calendar
year (with no carry over of unused vacation to a subsequent year) and any
holidays that may be provided to all employees of Employer in accordance with
Employer's holiday policy;

                        (ii) Reasonable sick leave;

                        (iii) Employer-paid memberships for Employee at one
country club and one social (eating) club in the Dallas or
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area, subject to the approval of the
President and Chief Executive Officer of Employer. Although it is contemplated
that the memberships shall be utilized for marketing and promotion of Employer's


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<PAGE>

business interests, in the event that any part of any membership shall be
treated as taxable compensation to Employee, Employer shall reimburse Employee
for any federal, state or local income tax owed by Employee, including any such
taxes owed as a result of any reimbursement under this subparagraph, in
connection with such membership; and

                        (iv) The use of an Employer-owned or Employer-leased
late model automobile, the selection and replacement of which shall be subject
to the approval of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Employer.

            5. Restricted Stock and Stock Options.

                  (a) Employer shall cause the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of Employer to grant to Employee 2,000 shares of restricted
common stock of CBSI effective as of the closing date of the Merger, the
restrictions on which shares shall expire in increments of 500 shares on each
January 1 beginning January 1, 2005, provided that Employee remains employed by
Employer on such January 1. The foregoing grant of restricted stock shall be
issued pursuant to, and subject to all the terms and conditions of, the
Community Bank System, Inc. 1994 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program or a
comparable successor program.

                  (b) In addition, Employer shall cause the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of Employer to review whether Employee
should be granted additional shares of restricted stock and/or options to
purchase shares of common stock of CBSI. Such review may be conducted pursuant
to the terms of the Community Bank System, Inc. 1994 Long-Term Incentive
Compensation Program, a successor plan, or independently, as the Compensation
Committee shall determine. Reviews shall be conducted no less frequently than
annually.


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<PAGE>

            6. Change of Control.

                  (a) Except as provided in paragraph 3(f), if Employee's
employment with Employer shall cease for any reason, including Employee's
voluntary termination for Good Reason, but not including Employee's termination
for Cause or Employee's voluntary termination without Good Reason, on or after
the first anniversary of the closing of the Merger and within 2 years following
a "Change of Control" that occurs during the Period of Employment, Employer
shall:

                        (i) Pay to the Employee the greater of (A) 200 percent
of the sum of the annual Base Salary in effect at the time of termination and
the most recent payment to Employee under the Management Incentive Plan, payable
in equal biweekly installments over the 24-month period following Employee's
termination, or (B) amounts of Base Salary and expected Management Incentive
Plan payments that otherwise would have been payable through the balance of the
unexpired term of this Agreement, payable in biweekly installments through the
balance of the unexpired term of this Agreement;

                        (ii) Provide Employee with fringe benefits, or the cash
equivalent of such benefits (equal to Employer's cost for such benefits),
identical to those described in paragraph 4(a) for the period during which Base
Salary is payable to Employee pursuant to (i) above. To the extent the benefits
provided to Employee in this paragraph 6(a)(ii) are deemed taxable benefits,
Employer shall reimburse Employee for taxes owed by Employee on the benefits and
tax reimbursement;

                        (iii) Treat as immediately exercisable all unexpired
stock options issued by Employer and held by Employee that are not otherwise
exercisable or that have not been exercised (so as to permit Employee to
purchase the balance of CBSI Stock not yet


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<PAGE>

purchased pursuant to said options until the end of the full exercise period
provided in the original grant of the option right, determined without regard to
Employee's termination of employment) and permit Employee to dispose of any
restricted stock previously granted to Employee; and

                        (iv) Permit Employee to dispose of any shares of
restricted stock granted to Employee.

                        (v) Subject to Employer's right to make the single lump
sum payment described in paragraph 6(a)(vi) below, if any portion of the amounts
paid to, or value received by, Employee following a "Change of Control" (whether
paid or received pursuant to this paragraph 6 or otherwise) constitutes an
"excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section
280G, then payments to Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited or
modified to the minimum extent necessary to eliminate the application of
Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 4999. The determination of any reduction
in payments to Employee pursuant to this paragraph 6(a)(v) shall be made by the
independent certified public accountant of Employer in consultation with
Employee.

                        (vi) Notwithstanding the foregoing of this paragraph
6(a), the Board of Directors of Employer may elect, in its sole discretion, to
pay all benefits due Employee pursuant to this paragraph 6 in a single lump sum
payment within 90 days following a Change of Control and Employee's termination
of employment with Employer. Subject to the limitation in paragraph 6(a)(v), in
the event a single lump sum payment is made pursuant to the foregoing sentence,
the amount of the payment shall be increased to the extent necessary to hold
Employee harmless from any marginal income and employment tax liability created
by the single lump sum payment (i.e., the income and employment tax liability
that exceeds the income


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<PAGE>

and employment tax liability that would have been incurred by Employee if
payments were made in the manner and during the periods otherwise described in
this paragraph 6).

                  (b) For purposes of this paragraph 6, a "Change of Control"
shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                        (i) any "person," including a "group" as determined in
accordance with the Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Exchange Act"), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of Employer representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of
Employer's then outstanding securities;

                        (ii) as a result of, or in connection with, any tender
offer or exchange offer, merger or other business combination (a "Transaction"),
the persons who were directors of Employer before the Transaction shall cease to
constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Employer or any successor to
Employer;

                        (iii) Employer is merged or consolidated with another
corporation and as a result of the merger or consolidation less than 70% of the
outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation shall
then be owned in the aggregate by the former stockholders of Employer, other
than (A) affiliates within the meaning of the Exchange Act, or (B) any party to
the merger or consolidation;

                        (iv) a tender offer or exchange offer is made and
consummated for the ownership of securities of Employer representing 30% or more
of the combined voting power of Employer's then outstanding voting securities;
or

                        (v) Employer transfers substantially all of its assets
to another corporation which is not controlled by Employer.


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<PAGE>

                  (c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean
action taken by Employer that results in:

                        (i) An involuntary and material adverse change in
Employee's title, duties, responsibilities, or total remuneration;

                        (ii) An involuntary relocation of the office from which
Employee is expected to perform his duties to a location that is not within 50
miles of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; or

                        (iii) An involuntary and material adverse change in the
general working conditions (including travel requirements and clerical support)
applicable to Employee.

            7. Withholding. Employer shall deduct and withhold from compensation
and benefits provided under this Agreement all required income and employment
taxes and any other similar sums required by law to be withheld.

            8. Covenants.

                  (a) Confidentiality. Employee shall not, without the prior
written consent of Employer, disclose or use in any way, either during his
employment by Employer or thereafter, except to perform his services as an
employee Employer, any confidential business or technical information or trade
secret that is not in the public domain acquired in the course of Employee's
employment by Employer. Employee acknowledges and agrees that it would be
difficult to fully compensate Employer for damages resulting from the breach or
threatened breach of the foregoing provision and, accordingly, that Employer
shall be entitled to temporary preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions
to enforce such provision. This provision with respect to injunctive relief
shall not, however, diminish Employer's right to claim and recover damages.
Employee covenants to use his best efforts to prevent the publication or


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<PAGE>

disclosure of any trade secret or any confidential information that is not in
the public domain concerning the business or finances of Employer or Employer's
affiliates, or any of its or their dealings, transactions or affairs which may
come to Employee's knowledge in the pursuance of his duties or employment.

                  (b) No Competition. Employee's employment is subject to the
condition that during the term of his employment hereunder and for the period
specified in paragraph 8(c) below, Employee shall not, within a 50 mile radius
of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate,
control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or
be connected as an officer, employee, partner, director, individual proprietor,
lender, consultant or otherwise with, or have any financial interest in, or aid
or assist anyone else in the conduct of, any entity or business (a "Competitive
Operation") which competes in the banking industry or with any other business
conducted by Employer or by any group, affiliate, division or subsidiary of
Employer. Employee shall keep Employer fully advised as to any activity,
interest, or investment Employee may have in any way related to the banking
industry. It is understood and agreed that, for the purposes of the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph, (i) no business shall be deemed to be a business
conducted by Employer or any group, division, affiliate or subsidiary of
Employer unless 5% or more of Employer's consolidated gross sales or operating
revenues is derived from, or 5% or more of Employer's consolidated assets are
devoted to, such business; (ii) no business conducted by any entity by which
Employee is employed or in which he is interested or with which he is connected
or associated shall be deemed competitive with any business conducted by
Employer or any group, division, affiliate or subsidiary of Employer unless it
is one from which 2% or more of its consolidated gross sales or operating
revenues is derived, or to which 2% or


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<PAGE>

more of its consolidated assets are devoted; and (iii) no business which is
conducted by Employer at the Date of Termination and which subsequently is sold
by Employer shall, after such sale, be deemed to be a Competitive Operation
within the meaning of this paragraph. Ownership of not more than 5% of the
voting stock of any publicly held corporation shall not constitute a violation
of this paragraph.

                  (c) Non-Competition Period. If Employee's employment with
Employer shall cease for any reason during the Period of Employment as defined
in paragraph 1(a) of this Agreement, the "non-competition period" shall begin on
the date the first payment is made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and
shall end on the earlier of (i) the date that is 12 months after the date the
final payment is made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) December
31, 2007; provided, however, that the date determined pursuant to (i) above
shall be the date the final payment is made pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, if Employer terminates Employee during the Period of Employment for
reasons other than Cause or if Employee voluntarily terminates his employment
during the Period of Employment for Good Reason.

                  (d) Termination of Payments. Upon the breach by Employee of
any covenant under this paragraph 8, Employer shall cease all payments to
Employee and may offset immediately any and all amounts payable to Employee
under this Agreement against any damages to which Employer is legally entitled
in addition to any and all other remedies available to Employer under the law or
in equity.

            9. Notices. Any notice which may be given hereunder shall be
sufficient if in writing and mailed by overnight mail, or by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to Employee at his residence and to Employer at 5790
Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, New York


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<PAGE>

13214, or at such other addresses as either Employee or Employer may, by similar
notice, designate.

            10. Rules, Regulations and Policies. Employee shall abide by and
comply in all material respects with all of the rules, regulations, and policies
of Employer, including without limitation Employer's policy of strict adherence
to, and compliance with, any and all requirements of the banking, securities,
and antitrust laws and regulations.

            11. No Prior Restrictions. Employee represents and warrants that
Employee is under no obligations to any former employer or other third party
which is in any way inconsistent with, or which imposes any restriction upon,
the employment of Employee by Employer, or Employee's undertakings under this
Agreement.

            12. Return of Employer's Property. After Employee has received
notice of termination or at the end of the Period of Employment, whichever first
occurs, Employee shall promptly return to Employer all documents and other
property in his possession belonging to Employer.

            13. Construction and Severability. The invalidity of any one or more
provisions of this Agreement or any part thereof, all of which are inserted
conditionally upon their being valid in law, shall not affect the validity of
any other provisions to this Agreement; and in the event that one or more
provisions contained herein shall be invalid, as determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the court shall have authority to modify such provision
in a manner that most closely reflects the intent of the parties and is valid.

            14. Governing Law. This Agreement was executed and delivered in New
York and shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York.


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<PAGE>

            15. Assignability and Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned
by Employee or Employer, except that this Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the successor of Employer through merger or
corporate reorganization. Any attempted assignment in violation of this
paragraph 15 shall be null and void and of no effect,

            16. Miscellaneous. This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and shall supersede all prior understandings and agreements,
including the First Heritage Employment Agreement. Employee hereby waives all
claims Employee may have under the First Heritage Employment Agreement and any
related agreement, plan or program of First Heritage Bank. This Agreement cannot
be amended, modified, or supplemented in any respect, except by a subsequent
written agreement entered into by the parties hereto. The services to be
performed by Employee are special and unique; it is agreed that any breach of
this Agreement by Employee shall entitle Employer (or any successor or assigns
of Employer), in addition to any other legal remedies available to it, to apply
to any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin such breach. The provisions of
paragraphs 6 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

            17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts
(each of which need not be executed by each of the parties), which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

            18. Jurisdiction, Venue and Fees. The jurisdiction of any proceeding
between the parties arising out of, or with respect to, this Agreement shall be
in a court of competent jurisdiction in New York State, and venue shall be in
Onondaga County. Each party shall be subject to the personal jurisdiction of the
courts of New York State. If Employee is the prevailing party in a proceeding to
collect payments due pursuant to this Agreement, Employer


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<PAGE>

shall reimburse Employee for reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Employee in
connection with such proceeding.

            The foregoing is established by the following signatures of the
parties.

                                       COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Sanford A. Belden
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Sanford A. Belden
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                                       COMMUNITY BANK, N.A.

                                       By: /s/ Sanford A. Belden
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Sanford A. Belden
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                                           /s/ Robert P. Matley
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                 ROBERT P. MATLEY


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<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX A

                          BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM

            Pursuant to the Employment Agreement between (i) Community Bank
System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A., and (ii) Robert P. Matley ("Agreement"),
I, Robert P. Matley, hereby designate Gertrude Matley, my wife, as the
beneficiary of amounts payable upon my death in accordance with paragraph 3(b)
of the Agreement. My beneficiary's current address is 18 Pheasant Run Dr.
Dallas, PA 18612.


Dated: May 14, 2004                          /s/ Robert P. Matley
                                             --------------------------
                                                 Robert P. Matley


_______________________________
           Witness


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