thanks @BoerBedonnered. that worked.
I see another option was just to specify the root folder of the reference bot so that the engine read the bot.json over there.
May you have fair winds and following seas ahead! 
thanks @BoerBedonnered. that worked.
I see another option was just to specify the root folder of the reference bot so that the engine read the bot.json over there.
May you have fair winds and following seas ahead!