final fix was:

/* case 1 - skin search path relative to app */
        foreach( array_reverse($this->maszSkinSearchPath) as $szPath )
        {
            //echo "searching registered skin path $szPath<BR>\n";
            if ($this->isAbsolutePath($szPath))
            {
                $szTempPath = $this->resolvePath2( $szFilePath, $szPath );
            }
            else 
            {
                $szTempPath = $this->resolvePath2( $szFilePath,
$_SESSION['gszAppPath'].'/'.$szPath."/" );
            }
            //echo "resolved search path to $szTempPath<BR>\n";
            clearstatcache();
            if ($szTempPath != "" && file_exists($szTempPath))
            {
                //echo "found in registered skin: $szTempPath<BR>\n";
                return $szTempPath;
            }
        }

to findFile in chameleon.php.  Fix committed to cvs in 2.1 and 2.0 branch