Exhibit 10.31

                        SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

            This Separation Agreement and Release ("Agreement") is entered into
by and between (i) Community Bank System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A.
(collectively, the "Employer"), and (ii) Michael A. Patton (the "Executive"), in
the interest of providing for Executive's voluntary early retirement and
otherwise amicably severing the Executive's employment relationship with the
Employer. This Agreement shall be binding on the Executive and the Employer and
their successors and permitted assigns. The parties hereby agree as follows:

                                    Recitals

      A.    The Executive is employed by the Employer as President, Financial
            Services of Community Bank, N.A., pursuant to the terms of an
            Employment Agreement between the Executive and the Employer dated
            and effective as of March 20, 2003 ("Employment Agreement").

      B.    The Employment Agreement provides for a term that expires on
            December 31, 2007.

      C.    The Employer has engaged in a senior management restructuring and
            long-term expense reduction initiative. Some of the Executive's
            duties have been or will be redistributed pursuant to that
            initiative.

      D.    The Employer offered the Executive (and other senior management
            personnel of Employer and its subsidiaries) the opportunity to
            retire prior to the expiration of the current term of the Employment
            Agreement and the Executive accepted the Employer's offer.

      E.    The terms of the Executive's voluntary retirement and separation
            from employment with the Employer are set forth in this Agreement.

                                      Terms

      1. Retirement Date. The Executive's retirement date will be December 31,
2005. The Executive's decision to retire and separate from employment on
December 31, 2005 is irrevocable. The Executive and the Employer shall continue
to be bound by the terms of the Employment Agreement through December 31, 2005,
at which time the Employment Agreement shall terminate, except as provided in
paragraph 9 below. In addition, the Executive shall cooperate with the Employer
in providing an orderly transition of his duties to such other Employer
personnel as designated by the Employer.

      2. Separation Benefits. In consideration of Executive's execution of this
Agreement, and his separation from employment on December 31, 2005, Employer
agrees to provide the following:

      a.    The Employer shall pay the Executive $511,265.00, reduced by
            applicable tax and other withholdings. The foregoing amount shall be
            paid on the later of January 10, 2006 or the expiration of the
            seven-day revocation period described in paragraph 4 below.

      b.    The Employer shall amend the basic formula for determining the
            Executive's supplemental retirement benefit to provide that, for
            supplemental retirement benefit purposes only, the Executive shall
            be deemed to have been employed through December 31, 2007 and to
            have received annual base salary increases of four percent for 2006
            and 2007. The supplemental retirement benefit increase described in
            this paragraph 2(b) shall be reduced to the extent the increase is
            payable pursuant to the Employer's tax-qualified defined benefit
            pension plan. Payments of any residual supplemental retirement
            benefits

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            shall commence on the date determined pursuant to the separate
            supplemental retirement plan agreement between the parties, provided
            that payments may not commence earlier than July 1, 2006. (As
            reflected in the Pension Estimate attached to this Agreement as
            Exhibit B, the Employer's actuaries have estimated that all of the
            Executive's supplemental retirement benefits will be payable under
            the QSERP provisions of the Employer's tax-qualified defined benefit
            pension plan, resulting in no residual supplemental retirement
            benefit to be payable by the Employer. The Executive's total lump
            sum benefit payable from the Employer's tax-qualified defined
            benefit pension plan, including QSERP benefits other than deferred
            compensation, was estimated on October 25, 2005 to be $1,567,927.00,
            assuming a distribution date of December 31, 2005. The actual value
            of the Executive's benefit payable from the Employer's tax-qualified
            defined benefit pension plan may be higher or lower, depending on
            such factors as the added QSERP benefit derived from the Executive's
            deferred compensation and the actual distribution date.)

      c.    The Employer shall grant or cause to be granted to Executive an
            option or options to acquire the same number of shares of Community
            Bank System, Inc. stock that would have been the subject of options
            that would have been granted to the Executive in 2006 pursuant to
            the Community Bank System, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive
            Compensation Program if the Executive had remained employed through
            February 2006. The option(s) granted shall provide for a per share
            exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of
            Community Bank System, Inc. stock on the date the grant is made. The
            grant shall be made no later than December 30, 2005.

      d.    The Employer shall treat the Executive as having retired in good
            standing on December 31, 2005 and, therefore, will treat the
            Executive as fully vested in all outstanding stock options granted
            by the Employer, including those granted pursuant to (c) above.

      e.    The Employer shall transfer to the Executive title to the
            Employer-owned vehicle currently used by the Executive in performing
            duties for the Employer. The value of the transferred vehicle will
            be treated by Employer as wages and, therefore, subject to
            applicable income and employment tax reporting and withholding. The
            transfer shall be completed by January 1, 2006.

      f.    The Executive may elect to continue coverage for himself and/or his
            eligible family members under the Employer's group health plan
            (pursuant to the COBRA or retiree provisions of such group health
            plan, as applicable). Group health plan coverage shall be subject to
            and in accordance with the terms of the group health plan as those
            terms and that plan may be amended, modified or terminated from time
            to time, and at any time, by the Employer in its sole discretion.

To the extent that the Employer determines that the benefits provided pursuant
to this paragraph 2 are includible in the Executive's gross income, the Employer
shall treat such amounts as wages for tax reporting and withholding purposes and
shall report such amounts to the Executive and to the Internal Revenue Service
on an Internal Revenue Service Form W-2.

      3. Release. The Executive agrees that in consideration for the Employer's
agreement to the terms of this Agreement, he unconditionally releases and
discharges the Employer, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns,
and all of their current and former directors, officers, employees, and agents,
in their individual and representative capacities (collectively, the
"Releasees"), to the full extent permitted by law, from any and all causes of
action, suits, damages, claims, proceedings, and demands he may have against the
Releasees arising out of, or related in any way to, his employment with the
Employer, or its termination. This includes any rights or claims he may have
based on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits age
discrimination in employment; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin,
religion or sex; the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits disability
discrimination in employment; the New

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York Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, marital status,
disability and age; breach of contract, any and all torts for personal injury,
and claims for attorney's fees; or any others claims or causes of action based
on federal, state or local laws or regulations or common law. This release
covers all claims that the Executive has against the Releasees as of the date of
the signing of this Agreement, whether asserted or unasserted, directly or
indirectly, or known or unknown. This release does not apply to amounts that the
Executive is entitled to receive pursuant to the Employer's 2005 Management
Incentive Plan and 2005 cash profit sharing plan, which amounts shall be paid in
accordance with those plans.

      4. Consideration Period. The Executive has been given at least 45 days to
consider this Agreement (including the attached Exhibit A that discloses the
ages and job titles of other employees of Employer who are eligible for similar
termination benefits and the ages of those Employer employees with the same job
titles who are not eligible), has been advised to consult with an attorney
before signing it, and, if he signs it, has seven days following his signature
to revoke the Agreement. Revocation will be effective if written Notice of
Revocation is delivered within seven days of the Executive's signature to Ms.
Bernadette Barber, Senior Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer,
Community Bank System, Inc., 5790 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, New York
13214-1883.

      5. Executive's Acknowledgements. The Executive acknowledges that: (a) he
has read and understands this Agreement; (b) he has knowingly, freely, and
voluntarily entered into it; and (c) he has been provided with adequate time to
review and consider its terms before executing it. The Executive acknowledges
that he is receiving consideration and other benefits to which he would not
otherwise be entitled in exchange for executing this Agreement. The Executive
further acknowledges and agrees that he is not releasing any claims that arise
after the date of his execution of this Agreement.

      6. Non-Disclosure. The parties agree that they will not, either directly
or indirectly, communicate, make known, or divulge to any person or any agency
who is not a signatory to this Agreement, any information relating to the terms
of this Agreement unless compelled by law to do so; provided however that the
Executive may disclose information related to the terms of this Agreement to his
legal and financial advisors, accountants, and immediate family members;
provided that in the case of all such disclosures, the Executive informs the
person(s) to whom disclosure is to be made of the provisions of this paragraph
and the party receiving the disclosure agrees, in writing, to be bound by these
provisions; and provided further that the Employer may disclose information
related to the terms of this Agreement to its executives on a "need to know"
basis only. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as interfering with the
Executive's ability to communicate with public agencies in the course of an
investigation or providing information required by lawful subpoena or court
order where mandated by law.

      7. Return of Materials. The Executive agrees to surrender to the Employer
all written materials, and all copies thereof, and all information stored in
computer memories or on microfiche, magnetic tape or diskette, that are in his
possession or control and that pertain to the business affairs of the Employer,
immediately. The Executive agrees to return to the Employer all other property
and equipment of the Employer in his possession or control. The materials,
information, property, and equipment returned by the Executive, if any, shall be
returned to the Employer no later than December 31, 2005 at the following
address: Ms. Bernadette Barber, Senior Vice President/Chief Human Resources
Officer, Community Bank System, Inc., 5790 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, New York
13214-1883.

      8. Confidentiality. The Executive acknowledges that he has had access to
information that is confidential to the Employer and that constitutes a
valuable, special and unique asset of the Employer, and with respect to the
Employer is entitled to the protections afforded by this Agreement to remedies
for enforcement of the Agreement provided by law or in equity (including, but
not limited to, those remedies, the availability of which may be within the
discretion of a court in which any action for enforcement of this Agreement is
brought). Executive agrees that he shall hold in strict confidence, and shall
not disclose to any person (other than officers, trustees, or executives of the
Employer) any confidential information of the Employer, unless required by law
to do so. The term "confidential information" shall include, but is not limited
to, trade secrets, legally protectable client information, client or consultant
contracts and the details thereof, pricing policies, operational methods,
marketing plans or strategies, business acquisition plans,

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personnel acquisition or termination plans, compensation and benefit schedules,
personnel records, and all other information pertaining to the business of the
Employer that is legally protectable and not publicly available. The Executive
also agrees not to use such confidential information in any way, unless required
by law to do so.

      9. Entire Agreement. Except as provided in the following sentence, this
Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties
regarding the Executive's retirement and separation from employment with the
Employer and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings between the
parties whether oral or written, including the Employment Agreement (which shall
terminate on December 31, 2005). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, this
Agreement shall not supersede any non-qualified deferred compensation,
confidentiality or non-competition agreements between the parties, including the
parties' agreement regarding confidentiality and non-competition set forth in
paragraph 8 of the Employment Agreement. The parties acknowledge that no
representation, promise, inducement, or statement of intention has been made by
any party to this Agreement that is not embodied in this Agreement, and agree
that no party shall be bound by, or liable for, any alleged representation,
promise, inducement, or statement of intention not set forth in this Agreement.

      10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with and governed by the statutes and common law of the State of New
York. 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.

      11. 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.

      12. Assignability and Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned by
the Executive or the Employer, except that this Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the successor of the Employer through merger
or corporate reorganization.

      13. Amendment. This Agreement cannot be amended, modified, or supplemented
in any respect, except by a subsequent written agreement entered into by the
Executive and the Employer.

      14. Miscellaneous. The Executive agrees not to make any derogatory or
negative verbal or written statements about the Employer, its employees,
officers, Board of Directors or Board members. The Executive agrees not to apply
for employment with the Employer and understands that he will not be considered
for such employment.

      15. 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.

              [The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.]

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of 12/1, 2005.

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
COMMUNITY BANK, N.A.

By:  /s/ Mark E. Tryniski               Dated: 12-2, 2005
     ---------------------------
         Mark E. Tryniski
         Executive Vice President/
         Chief Operating Officer


EXECUTIVE

By:  : /s/ Michael A. Patton            Dated: : 12-1, 2005
      --------------------------
           Michael A. Patton

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STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF ONONDAGA      ) ss.:

            On this ____ day of _________, 2005, before me personally came Mark
E. Tryniski, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for Community Bank
System, Inc. and Community Bank, N.A., to me known and known to me to be the
individual described in, and who executed the foregoing instrument, and he duly
acknowledged that he executed the same.


                                        _________________________________
                                                   Notary Public

STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF Cattaraugus   ) ss.:

            On this 1st day of December, 2005, before me personally came Michael
A. Patton, to me known and known to me to be the individual described in, and
who executed the foregoing instrument, and he duly acknowledged that he executed
the same.


                                              Phyllis B. Washburn
                                        -----------------------------
                                                Notary Public