Exhibit 5.1



                                  May 25, 2001


Community Bank System, Inc.
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York 13214


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Community Bank System, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation (the "Company") in connection with the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed on this date with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Community Bank
System, Inc. 1994 Long Term Incentive Compensation Program (the "Plan").

     In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon originals or
copies, authenticated or certified to our satisfaction, of such corporate
records of the Company, communications or certifications of public officials,
communications with or certificates of officers, directors and representatives
of the Company, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary to the
issuance of the opinion set forth herein. In making this examination, we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
tendered to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.

     Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the shares of the
Company's Common Stock, no par value, registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement and offered by the Company pursuant to the Plan will be, assuming that
such shares are validly authorized at the time of issuance and assuming that no
change occurs in the applicable law or pertinent facts, when issued in
accordance with the Plan, legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We hereby consent to the use of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.



                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ Bond, Schoeneck & King, LLP